Jo Pigram and Shannon Blinman were diagnosed with breast cancer within a month of each other in 2010.

Shannon was just 34 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and Jo was 52.

In a strange co-incidence, the two worked together, had the same doctor and the same form of cancer, ductal carcinoma.

Both had undergone mammograms at the beginning of 2010 which had come up clear, however in October Jo had two tumors and in November Shannon had three. 

Both women underwent mastectomies soon after their diagnosis and were bumped up the list due to the aggressive cancer.

Shannon asked her doctor what the odds were of the two of them in the same work place having the same cancer.

“He told me that if he was to approach 20 people on the street, two of them would have the same kind of cancer and not know it,” Shannon said.

Jo and Shannon had a family history of breast cancer and were conscientious when it came to their health.

Jo had regular mammograms and when she noticed skin tethering, she spoke to her sister who had gone through breast cancer twice.

“I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound then a biopsy and two weeks later I was having surgery,” Jo said.

Shannon noticed a change in her breast and mentioned it to a registered nurse at work who said she should go and get checked.

“My nipple had a divot in it for three days and I just thought I had slept funny,” Shannon said.

“I was at the doctors on Wednesday, had a mammogram and an ultrasound Thursday and a biopsy on the Friday. I already knew something was wrong and the results confirmed it the following Wednesday.”

By the time her results were through her breast looked as though it had returned to normal.

“There was only a brief period of change and if I hadn’t have gotten it checked, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Shannon has four children who at the time were 12, 11, nine and three and Jo had just become a grandmother for the second time.

Both were determined to watch the children grow up.

“My grandson was just six months old and I wanted to see him grow up. He was one of my biggest incentives to beat this,” Jo said.

“Your whole outlook on life changes, you really learn the meaning of what real problems are. You appreciate so much more.”

They agreed that they were lucky to have most of their treatment in Bowral. Jo had to travel out of town to get six months of radiation, but they “couldn’t fault what we have here”.

“The McGrath nurses are worth their weight in gold. They were just a call away and they still are,” Jo said.

“When you’re going through chemo, they really help you get through it.”

On November 7-8 this year, to celebrate being alive and healthy and in remission for five years, Jo and Shannon will participate in The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers benefiting the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

Funds raised through The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers support integrated treatment and pioneering research for all women’s cancers while providing comfort and care for cancer patients at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney. 

Shannon said they were doing the walk not only to celebrate, but to challenge themselves.

“We’re doing this to celebrate and if our stories can get just one person to look at their body and realise something is not right and get checked, it could save a life,” Shannon said.

“I’m lucky; I get to watch my kids grow up.

“If you notice something that wasn’t there a year or six months ago, get an ultrasound and a mammogram and if there is nothing there then that’s great, but you only have a short window of time before it can get out of hand.”

While Shannon’s cancer had not yet travelled to her lymph nodes, Jo’s did and that’s where it can rapidly travel to the rest of the body.

“People are getting diagnosed at a younger age quite rapidly, they need to be vigilant about checking their bodies and going to the doctors,” Shannon said.

They are both aiming to raise at least $2000 each.

Jo said they were going to do several activities to fundraise, including raffles and a Girls’ Night In to raise money.”

“If there is any business out there that would like to donate a prize/voucher that we could raffle that would be really great,” Jo said.

If you are interested in donating, contact Jo on 0411 297 297.

Visit http://sy15.endcancer.org.au, then go to the donate tab and search for either Jo or Shannon.