Three Gold Coast breast cancer survivors are helping shine a light on a specialised sleepwear range designed by a Queensland woman after her own life-changing diagnosis.
Michelle Chapman was just 41 when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer – with doctors discovering a staggering 10 tumours in her breasts.
Following a bilateral mastectomy and cancer treatment at Mater Hospital Brisbane, Ms Chapman created Akoya, a specialised sleepwear range designed to support women recovering from mastectomy surgery.
Gold Coast-based breast cancer survivors Hayley Little, Mel Siwicki and Nicky Simonis say the sleepwear was a “game-changer” for those in recovery.
"Going into cancer treatment and surgery, you really don’t know what you’re going to need,” Ms Simonis said.
“Having something comfortable with pockets specifically designed for surgical drains is a game changer for recovery. The pockets make moving around so much easier and give women somewhere safe and discreet to keep drains, while still having something beautiful to wear.”
Ms Little said the sleepwear gave her just one less thing to think about during recovery.
Ms Chapman said she developed the idea while recovering from her own bilateral mastectomy.
“After surgery I was gifted bags to carry my mastectomy drains in,” she said.
“And it really was a gift – the drains are long, easy to trip on and they're stitched into the side of your chest wall, so it's painful if you do. They can be in for up to two weeks, and I've heard some women can have them much longer.
“I couldn’t find any alternatives to these bags, so I got a pair of PJs, and my mum sewed some internal pockets into them so I could wrap the drains up and put them away.”
Ms Chapman said it was a relief to feel “a little bit more human” having the drains safely tucked away.
“I thought I couldn't possibly be the only woman walking this path that felt that way, and I decided I wanted to do something about it. That's how Akoya was born,” she said.
Ms Chapman launched Akoya this year. One dollar from every Akoya purchase is given to Mater Chicks in Pink, which funds breast cancer research and life-saving equipment at Mater hospitals, as well as personalised support services, including mastectomy bras, wigs and scarves.
“I remember the day I got diagnosed, I said to mum, 'Something beautiful will come from this,’” she said
“I'm a big believer that you can't avoid turmoil, hurdles, and sickness, but I'm a firm believer in mindset and choices. It was never my plan to get breast cancer, let alone start a pyjama brand.
But there has been real beauty that has come out of something ugly – from everything I've gone through to the people I've met.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in seven Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.
One in four Queensland women diagnosed with breast cancer is treated at a Mater hospital across the state.
“Breast cancer is a club you never want to belong to, but you meet a lot of extraordinary humans you never would have otherwise,” Ms Chapman said.
“Akoya has been a real gift. It gave me something to focus on, and it was always bigger than me.”
Mater Hospital Brisbane breast surgeon Dr Christopher Allan urged women to undergo regular breast checks, because early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.
“As Michelle so eloquently related, breast cancer is never in anyone’s life plan,” Dr Allan said.
“But for those that are affected, we have teams of Mater people who are there to care for and guide you through every stage of a breast care journey. We have your back and we will get you through this.”
