Rachael Rogan was one of four mums of children in her son’s year with breast cancer – a statistic that has the Denhams Beach emergency nurse in the mood to dance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When I was diagnosed, I had three little boys, a newborn baby, a two-year-old and a five-year-old.
- Rachael Rogan
She’ll dance on November 26 for a cure of the disease she was diagnosed with shortly after the birth of her youngest child.
The St Bernard’s mum will dance as part of the NSW Cancer Council fundraiser Stars of the Eurobodalla Dance for Cancer.
The council is matching teachers with “stars” who will spend the next two months learning their roles for the big night at the Tomakin Sports & Social Club. Ms Rogan, a university lecturer, danced when she was younger.
“Apparently I was a dancer before cancer,” she said.
“To have all these women in my own circle of friends and my son’s circle of friends (diagnosed) was a very cruel irony,” she said.
“I was diagnosed when our third son was born; he is now five, but because I have the BRCA gene it has been a longer battle.”
Yesterday, she was due back in hospital for further investigations on her lungs, “but I feel fine and I am lecturing at uni and hope to get back to emergency in six weeks,” she said.
She will dance for other mums who struggle.
“We are all young,” she said.
“It is more aggressive when you are in your 30s. This is a rural area and the incidence is so high.
“When I was diagnosed, I had a newborn, a two-year-old and a five-year-old. The Cancer Council was an enormous help with cleaning, social support, financial, counselling. I am keen to give back.”
Visit the Stars of the Eurobodalla Dance for Cancer Facebook page.