Kate Hardman, a 40-year-old mother of three, faces her battle with terminal breast cancer with remarkable courage and an inspiring message for others. After feeling unusual lumps while nursing her first baby, she was eventually diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. Since then, she has courageously traversed a severe medical saga that shaped her and her family’s lives immeasurably.
When expected tranquility was cut short in 2021, Kate’s cancer returned and metastasized to her spine, breaking her C5 vertebra. This heartbreaking diagnosis arrived as she was pregnant with her third child. After her left breast mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment, Kate had to have same day surgery on her neck. Only a week after pitching, she gave birth to her daughter. Even when faced with the sobering reality that time is limited, Johns refuses to let her circumstances stop her from enjoying everyday life.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges
Kate’s first diagnosis in 2017 was just the start of a long and painful road. At that moment, she was only in her late twenties and had just recently become a mother herself.
I was 23 weeks pregnant when I got my second diagnosis of breast cancer. Unlike last time, it was bipartisan. Kate explained, “So I had a mastectomy on the right breast.”
After having surgery and being put on a regimen of medication, Kate was hopeful for her future. By 2021, she was ready to stop taking her medication. Sadly, early in 2023, the cancer returned, reappearing in her right breast.
“You really have to sink to the depths of despair, I mean it’s just traumatic,” she told me. “Your world gets turned upside down.”
Even though she’s faced those hardships, she hasn’t let that break her spirit, and she remains tough and defiant. She uses her story to encourage others to get in for annual screenings with their healthcare provider.
Creating Memories and Spreading Awareness
For the last year-and-a-half, Kate and her husband Kriss have been riding their family’s motorcycles around Australia with their three littles. Their mission doesn’t end there—they strive to provide memorable experiences and educate the world about breast and testicular cancer.
Kriss is super urgent for this to be what we’re traveling for. They want to be intentional about cherishing every moment as a family.
“That’s what I want to achieve while she is here … I want to tick off as many of these places as we can,” he stated.
Kate reminds her audience to be present, encouraging people not to wait to start pursuing their dreams.
“Get out there and do what you want to do because no one is promised tomorrow,” she asserted.
Their journey serves as a poignant reminder of how precious life is and the value of making meaningful connections during difficult times.
The Importance of Regular Check-ups
Both Kate and Kriss are strong advocates for appropriate health screenings and consistent access to care. Kriss provides insight from the perspective of someone who would have put off getting medical care if it wasn’t for Kate’s diagnosis.
I would have put it off. I would have been one of those blokes that said, ‘I’ll go next week, next month,’ and then by the time you put it off and don’t go, maybe it’s too late, he remarked.
Kate’s journey is a shining example of the life-saving impact that early detection can have.
“It can save your life. It saved mine. If I had left it, I might not be here,” Kriss noted.
Kate’s current treatment regime involves monthly blood tests which are faxed back to her oncologist in Darwin. In addition to these annual check-ups, she gives more regular updates on her location every three months to facilitate ongoing treatment.
Living Life Fully
Even with the life-threatening conditions Kate has, she refuses to live without fighting to get the most out of every day. While Susan recognizes the emotional impact cancer has on families, including her own, she hopes sharing her story will encourage others facing the journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“You feel like you’re going to lose everything. You feel like you’re going to miss out on your children growing up,” she expressed.
Kate’s adventure doesn’t stop with defeating cancer. She remains a tireless advocate for awareness, motivates everyone she meets to live life to the fullest, and embraces every day with her family and friends.
