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- Angelique’s story: “I knew she had my back.”
Angelique’s story: “I knew she had my back.”
At 24, Angelique found herself navigating a world far removed from that of her peers, filled with scans, fertility decisions and cancer treatment.
Angelique knew instantly that the lump she found was different, and although her vigilance meant it was detected early, the whirlwind that followed was confronting. Guided by the unwavering support of her partner, Jordan, and her McGrath Cancer Care Nurse, Sam Moules, she moved through treatment with resilience. Now, at 27 Angelique is rebuilding her life while using her story to support others.
Facing cancer at a young age
Angelique had been proactive about her breast health since she was 19, regularly self-checking and attending specialist appointments. So, when she found a lump in November 2023 that felt different, she acted quickly. At just 24, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and, within two weeks, had undergone scans, met her care team, and was suddenly facing decisions few people her age ever consider.
One of the most confronting moments came almost immediately - the need to make urgent fertility decisions before starting chemotherapy. Angelique had just 10 hours to decide whether to proceed with fertility preservation. “My friends weren’t even thinking about having kids at that time,” she says. “You look at your peers and want to be on the same journey as them, so it felt strange and overwhelming to suddenly be thinking about preserving my eggs.” Angelique was only able to complete one round of IVF before chemotherapy began urgently.
Angelique underwent a year of extensive treatment, involving 16 rounds of chemotherapy alongside chemotherapy tablets, 1 lumpectomy surgery with central node removal and 3 weeks of radiotherapy.
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Throughout it all, her devoted partner Jordan attended every appointment and even spent his 30th birthday in the chemotherapy suite. Despite the challenges, the pair created bright spots along the way, approaching the experience with hope and future-focused mentality. Alongside Jordan and Angelique’s extended family, there was another pillar of support - her McGrath Cancer Care Nurse, Sam Moules, who became a calm, reassuring presence throughout every stage of treatment. “Sam was my first point of contact for everything, if I had a headache, a temperature, anything, I would call her,” Angelique says. “She was my soundboard, always available when I needed her.”
“Sam was my first point of contact for everything”
- Angelique
Support from McGrath Cancer Care Nurse Sam
Sam vividly remembers connecting with Angelique for the first time.
“Meeting Angelique was so special, she was this beautiful, fresh-faced young woman, but there was a fear in her eyes,” she says. “But she was so well supported by friends and family that she was putting on a brave face. She had her team around her already, but she was so accepting of me joining the team and stepping in throughout.”
From their very first meeting, Sam understood the unique challenges Angelique faced as a 24-year-old entering a cancer centre surrounded mostly by patients many decades older. The care required a different lens. “I had to put myself into her shoes,” Sam says. “She was just starting her career, in a young relationship, finding her groove, and suddenly so much was taken away from her. It was important to be open and honest about what was ahead, to give her a clear picture while reassuring her along the way.”
Angelique felt that support immediately. “She was always so warm and caring from the get-go,” she says. “I felt so comfortable with her, speaking about things that were incredibly personal straight away. She made me feel so at ease. She never made me feel like I was overreacting, and she would always validate how I was feeling in every situation.”
“She made me feel so at ease. She never made me feel like I was overreacting, and she would always validate how I was feeling”
- Angelique
Sam ensured Angelique’s needs were heard and met, whether they were major concerns or small uncertainties. “If something was a worry to Angelique, then it needed addressing.” Sam says.
Sam’s care extended to Angelique’s wider support network, bonding with Jordan and her family and becoming part of the familiar “chemotherapy crew” that surrounded her at appointments. She provided both psychosocial and clinical support and played a central coordinating role. “Sam was the communicator of the team,” Angelique says. “She made sure everyone was looped in and was the middle person for so many different people. I knew she had my back.”
What stayed with Sam most was Angelique’s instinct to help others, even in the middle of treatment. “She was always wanting to give back,” Sam says. “Even during chemotherapy, she was thinking about ways to share her experience and raise awareness.”
Angelique’s gratitude remains deep. “Sam is the most beautiful person you could come across, she was really incredible, and I appreciate everything she’s done for me.”
Vanessa Kostrz was diagnosed with breast cancer just 18 months after an anal cancer diagnosis. With back-to-back cancers, she knows the difference a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse makes.
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Kate Hardman has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and is living with metastatic breast cancer. Her husband Kriss has had his own cancer diagnosis.
Lizzy Sargeant, 62, and husband Mark were excited to depart on an overseas holiday to London in June last year. Just two days into their holiday, Lizzie felt a lump in her breast.
When Renee was 33, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast. In November last year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her right breast. Being married and raising three young boys and running a business with her husband, Renee quickly acted and sought treatment.
Isla Foy, 35, was 26 weeks pregnant when she felt pain in her left breast. As the pain continued to increase, she saw her doctor six weeks later where she was referred to an ultrasound.
Friends Sam Burge and Nikki Shar both have cancer experiences. Sam was diagnosed with breast cancer and had the support of a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse, while Nikki nursed her husband through cancer alone.
Kim Van Gestel was diagnosed with breast cancer after feeling a lump in her breast. She has been supported throughout by McGrath Cancer Care Nurse Tamara Fernandez.