Meet Martine Dines

This International Women's Day we wanted to highlight the women that inspire us and they truly don’t get any more inspiring than Martine Dines. This woman is pure sunshine! We sat down with Martine who tells us her journey with breast cancer & her outlook on life is simply inspiring. Her aim to spread awareness & live every second of each day to the fullest is a such an important message to all of us.

Firstly, are you able to give us a brief introduction to Martine! Where did you grow up, your age etc., can you share your story?

I am 31, originally from Belfast, Ireland and moved to Australia 9 years ago. I am an Australian Citizen now. I live in the eastern suburbs with my fiancé Sean and my fur baby Bruno who is a 6-year-old brown groodle.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in June 2021 when I was 29 after finding 2 lumps on my right breast while on holiday with my fiancé. (we should have been in Ireland getting married on the exact day I found my lumps but unfortunately this was the second wedding we had to cancel due to COVID19). I had a Mastectomy and reconstruction, IVF, 5 months of chemotherapy, 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy. Shortly after being diagnosed, we found out that my family carries a BRCA gene mutation which means we have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Therefore, I had my left breast removed last year as prophylactic/preventative surgery. I am currently in a medically induced menopause which consists of one tablet every day and an injection once a month to stop my body from producing any hormones as my cancer was ‘feeding’ of my hormones. This treatment is called hormone therapy. I will have hormone therapy for 10 years and when I am 40 years old, I will have my ovaries removed to avoid ovarian cancer.

Let’s get to know you in 5 words.

• Strong
• Honest
• Ambitious
• Passionate
• Adventurous

The perfect day to Martine looks like…..

• Walk Bruno before the sun comes up. It is our time together before the rest of the world wakes up
• Sunrise swim in the ocean followed by an almond latte and a chat with friends.
• Exercise – either the gym, ocean swim, run or yoga
• Brunch – usually avo bruschetta with another coffee
• Relax in the sun with my book and journal
• Take Bruno on a long walk
• Finish the day with a herbal tea and some dark chocolate

 

When you found out your diagnosis what was your initial coping mechanism? Tell us about what/who got you through it.

Going through any sort of trauma in your life is hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s a breakup, an illness, losing a loved one, not getting the promotion you worked so hard for. Our trauma is unique to us all but the coping mechanisms or tools to recovery can be the same so I wanted to share what really worked for me.

PEOPLE – A problem shared, is a problem halved. Speak to someone, anyone. It doesn’t need to a counsellor. Some of my friends are the best counsellors I have ever had. I also have the most supportive and loving fiancé who hears every little thought that comes into my head. 

FITNESS AND EXERCISE – it is the last thing on your mind, but it is so important. I often challenged myself. At the start of my treatment when I was extremely ill, my goals were very small; walk to the end of the driveway, then the corner of the street and so on. Then I got back in the gym after a few weeks and then back running and swimming. It is so important for your heart and your head. We often see exercise as punishment. Show of hands if you have ever said to yourself, I NEED to go to the gym for my sins, I ate too much, I had some cake… We need to start seeing exercise as a celebration of what our bodies can do and to help keep us strong, not skinny.

NATURE – what is there not to love about nature. It is free, beautiful and the raw elements of the world. Sitting on the steps at the beach and watching the waves role in one after another, made me feel relaxed, calm and at peace. I found myself craving nature rather than sitting inside and looking at the 4 walls of my apartment.

SUNRISE AND EARLY MORNINGS – Night-time was the worst time for me. When the world slept, my mind started to race, the sweats got worse, and the nausea was ramping up. However, I have always had a love for sunrises so I soon changed my mindset about night and went to bed looking forward to a sunrise, to a new day, a fresh start, another day closer to ending treatment.. Oh and not to mention, a LARGE ALMOND LATTE.

JOURNALLING – because sometimes we don’t want to speak to a person or tell anyone what we are feeling or think. We don’t want to be judged or influenced. Or sometimes, you don’t want to burden people with what is going on in your head. I bought a $3 Kmart journal, and I wrote in it every single day. Your thoughts are better out than in. I also wrote in my journal 3 things I was grateful for every day. I have never been more grateful for living in a shoe box apartment in the eastern suburbs where my bed was only 5 steps from the toilet bowl! If you’re not into writing, but have a pet, they are great listeners too.

MEDIATING – You do not need to sit on the ground in a yogi position with incense and crystals. I often mediate when I am swimming, cooking or running. It is a time to switch off and refocus. Your brain needs time to recover throughout the day. 

HOLLISTIC TREATMENT – I was getting the best medical treatment possible from my doctors and nurses, they really are superheros. But I know there was another whole world of treatment in holistic treatment. I was getting regular reiki and kinesiology sessions. I found these services every calming and spiritual. I would recommend them.

What mental barriers did you have to overcome through your experience?

We can see the physical barriers that are related to Cancer but I personally think the mental barriers are harder to overcome and therefore more important to talk about and treat. Depression, anxiety, self worth, I have been through them all and know that I will continue to be challenged by mental barriers which is why my mental and physical health always comes first.

At the start of my diagnoses, I felt like a burden. I didn’t want to tell my family about my diagnoses and worry them. I give my partner a ‘get out of jail free’ card as some may say. It hurt me more to tell them than when I received my diagnoses for the first time. You have other thoughts – I am going to die; I am ugly; I don’t deserve to live; I must be a bad person to have got this; why me?; why not them?; I can’t face reality today; things would be better if I just disappeared now… the list is endless and the thoughts were relentless.

Social media is such a powerful tool at our fingertips, tell us about how you shared your journey and the response from your community.

I shared most updates on my treatment and progress through photos and videos on my social media. It was a great way to keep family and friends updated on my journey.  It was a great way to connect with those who have been on a similar journey. I have met with most of the amazing woman I connected with in Sydney and in Ireland. Although you may have an army of support around you when going through something like this, you still feel so alone and somewhat disconnected. That is why is it great to speak to people who have been through it or are currently going through it.

The response that I had was overwhelming. So many people reached out to offer help, send their love and give me advice or recommendations having been through BC in the past. My favourite messages were from woman who had been through BC 10+ years ago and were alive and living a healthy life. They gave me great hope that it would be me in years to come.

Spreading awareness for Breast Cancer is obviously very close to your heart. What is your goal in spreading awareness?

Since my diagnoses, I strongly believe that my purpose in life is to spread awareness around breast cancer and by doing so, I am sharing the vision with NBCF of zero deaths due to breast cancer. The more we are aware of your bodies, the better we will be at detecting any changes. I want to show women that although treatment and surgery’s are challenging, that life does exist after BC.

My second goal is to send a message to everyone – Do not wait for a life-threatening illness to start living your life. Jump in the ocean, tell your loved ones you love them, quit your stressful job, make the move abroad, eat the cake… I can say that I am now living my life at 31 and doing all the things that make me happy so start living now.

Why do we all fear death? Death is inevitable. The only things in life we HAVE to do in life is die (and pay our taxes). When our time on his earth is up and we look back on our life, we shouldn’t fear that we have not lived the life we wanted.

The 8th of March International Women’s Day. We think you are such an inspiring woman with a story to tell. Who is that person to you?

I often find this question tough, and it is not because I don’t find other woman inspiring, but I look up to so many women in my life who are all inspiring for certain things.

• I look up to my mum who inspires me every day. She is a superwoman to be able to cope with everything she has been dealt with in life yet be there at the drop of a hat for others.
• Previous breast cancer patients and I can name many!
• Previous boss of mine who helped me grow in my professional career

 

Then when I look outside my immediate circle there are many women who inspire me.

• Jacinta Ardern – extremely high profile in politics yet took her baby into parliament and breast fed during a meeting. Showing that a woman’s role of being a mother, never stops.
• Serena Williams – Amazing sports woman who speaks out about gender and race
• Malala Yousafzai – despite the Taliban’s efforts, she is alive and set up the Malala Fund to ensure women have a right to education

 

Finish this sentence: Everyday I will…

Be grateful for every second on this earth and live life to its full potential while spreading BC awareness to everyone and showing that life does exist after cancer.

What is next for Martine?

Embark on a new career and continue to spread awareness for BC. I want to set up a charitable business in relation to BC and I feel like I have a lot of knowledge and experience that I want to share with those who need it so I am considering writing something that will be able for all.

 

We hope that Martine’s story has sparked the importance to check your breasts and be breast aware. Here at Rockwear, we are passionate about doing more and helping others. We are so proud to be partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation as our key charity partner because Together, We’re Stronger.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia’s leading national body funding game-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public. For more information on how to check your breasts and help raise awareness please visit https://nbcf.org.au/