By Kyra Gillespie
Kathryn Pantorno was only 37 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now 44 and a survivor, Kathryn put her hand up to be a So Brave model, painted head-to-toe to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research.
Now in its fourth year, So Brave, Australia’s Young Women’s Breast Cancer Charity, aims to empower young breast cancer survivors.
Kathryn will feature in So Brave’s 2020 annual breast cancer fundraising calendar, which launches later this year in September.
The Mount Burnett resident was transformed by body-paint artist Laurie Faulkner on Sunday 3 March.
“The reason I chose to participate in the So Brave 2020 breast cancer fundraising calendar is to raise awareness that breast cancer can strike anyone, anytime,” Kathryn said.
“I was young, fit, with no family history. I struggle at times to look in the mirror, So Brave covered my battered body in beautiful art making me feel whole again which will be invaluable to me.”
Kathryn remembers feeling shocked and in denial when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.
“My actual first thought when diagnosed was, ‘How am I going to tell my mum?’
“Then I thought they must be wrong; I’m fit, young at 37, with no family history of the disease. Why me? What did I do wrong? Can I still have children?”
Kathryn endured gruelling treatment; eight bouts of chemotherapy, a month of radiation and a mastectomy.
“The chemo, to say the least, was slow torture; starting with losing all my hair, then all my finger and toe nails,” she said.
“My eyes watered for six months; people would say ‘Why are you crying?’ I would say I’m not, my insides are.
“I was so swollen and pain came from so deep down it was even hard to walk most days. My memory failed me and I had a number of infections and allergic reactions to the treatments.
“Then came my mastectomy which was a marathon operation that went really well. complications followed with many more trips to hospital.”
Her family was her rock during the treatment journey.
“My family, friends and especially my Mum were my support. It was so hard watching my how much it pained my parents and family to watch me go through cancer. I suffered the physical pain but I know it was a emotional fight for all of them.
“Finally finishing all treatment was a relief knowing I can only get better now, but really it never leaves your mind. It’s always there, and it’s really hard to celebrate.
“I had a mastectomy followed by two reconstructive surgeries only to loose my breast to an infection, choosing to now wear a prosthetic.
“I still struggle to look at myself and haven’t really come to terms with my body. This is why I thought So Brave was such an empowering way to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer survivors under 40.”
Each year So Brave creates a captivating fundraising calendar featuring 12 young women who are breast cancer survivors.
The women are transformed with body art and are photographed for the annual fundraising calendar.
The photographs depict the metamorphosis that each young woman has gone through during their body paint photoshoot and breast cancer journey.
Young breast cancer survivor, CEO and Founder of So Brave, Rachelle Panitz, said, “The calendar is a celebration of the women and of their bravery in facing breast cancer and in sharing in this bodypainting experience to raise awareness and money to fight this disease.”
Funds raised from calendar sales go to So Brave’s mission programs of empowerment, education and advocacy and directly funding breast cancer research.
Cancer has changed Kathryn’s outlook on life.
“Looking back I know now it’s definitely the little things in life that mean the most; a text saying big hugs, soup and food delivered without needing to ask, games of eye spy from friends on my phone to distract my mind, friends becoming life long friends from the love showed and the relationship developed between my parents especially my Mum, I can never thank her enough.”
