Unfortunately, Sue knows all too well the impact a breast cancer diagnosis can have on a person and their family and she bravely opened up on her recent journey.

Sue's life was rocked after she underwent a regular mammogram test in early December 2017.

The then 66-year-old received a call two weeks later to undertake more testing and four days later she heard the dreadful news.

"I had to do all these extra tests but I was still in denial that anything could be wrong, I felt fine and wasn't sick at all so I didn't think anything was wrong with me," Sue told the Argus.

"I had an appointment to see my GP on December 22 but before it, I received a phone call and it was a breast cancer nurse from Port Macquarie and she was calling to schedule me in for an appointment.

"I was so shocked and said I hadn't been to see my doctor yet. She apologised and told me she thought I had found out the day earlier.

"It worked out better in a way because it gave me three hours to prepare for my doctor's appointment and I took my daughter-in-law with me to help take in all the information."

Sue was diagnosed with stage three Ductal Carcinoma In Situ which is abnormal cellsin in the breast milk ducts.

Sue was fortunate to spend time with her family, who are all extremely close, over the Christmas period before she was booked in for surgery in Port Macquarie to remove the tumor on January 21.

"I wasn't scared to have the operation, I didn't feel sick and I couldn't physically see anything wrong with me so I still wasn't concerned," Sue said.

"I don't think it had fully sunk in."

After the removal of the tumor, scans revealed there was a further threat and Sue was forced to have a second surgery on February 22 to remove lymph nodes under the breast.

"That's when I lost the plot a bit, when it really started to rock me. When I was told I needed a second surgery I just thought 'oh my goodness'," Sue said.

Following the second surgery, Sue began radiation treatment which pushed her to her limit, but the acts of kindness and support from husband Adrian, their three sons and their wives and children, helped her come out the other side.

"The radiation happens five times a week but because of Easter and ANZAC Day, I had six sessions a week to ensure I didn't miss a treatment," she said.

"After seven days, there was a lot of redness and swelling and it was quite nasty and incredibly painful.

"But with three or four days to go, I couldn't take it anymore. They give you a triple booster for the last five sessions and I was in so much pain.

"The radiologist and nurse told me my response to the treatment was the worst they had seen in 10 years but they encouraged me to finish the sessions.

"The radiologist explained I need to complete it, that it's a jigsaw puzzle and it wouldn't be finished and all of the previous treatments would be for nothing.

"My family made a quick and wonderful decision to book in a week and all stay together at the Port Macquarie caravan park for that final week. It was incredibly difficult but with the love and support of all of them I got through it."

The gruelling seven months came to an end in July of 2018 but Sue still has regular check ups with her oncologist, radiologist and surgeon and has a mammogram on an annual basis.

"In that moment I thought I had kicked arse and I beat it," she said.

Sue also takes preventative medicine on a daily basis, which has an impact on her lifestyle.

Through the entire ordeal, Sue made the decision to keep her diagnosis a secret from her mother, who was 91 at the time.

"It would have been terrible for my mum to know I was suffering. She had seven children and we are a very close family, I made them promise not to tell her," she said.

"After the operation, my mum asked why my arm was sore and I told her I had pulled a muscle lifting something from the car. Well, she called me twice a day for a week to see if I was still in pain, that's how much she cared."

Sadly, Sue's mother passed away in September last year.

When Sue heard Gladstone was turning pink this weekend to raise money for the McGrath Foundation, she knew she had to get involved.

"It really hit home for me and I wanted to do my part to encourage others to get involved too," Sue said.

"My grandchildren came over to the house yesterday (October 1) to help decorate the front verandah and they told me they had had so much fun they were going to donate their pocket money to the McGrath Foundation in honour of me. I thought that was so sweet and generous."

The loving couple, Sue and Adrian, celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary today and Sue claims Adrian is the most kind and loving husband there is and did everything he could to support her and make her comfortable through the devastating period in her life.

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