When Anne-Marie Greenway heard that Benalla Rural City had been dropped from the border bubble she did not know if she could attend vital cancer treatment in Albury.
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Conflicting and confusing information, which she was forced to research herself, only added to the worry and stress she was already experiencing.
Ms Greenway had been on every website she could find, she had contacted her local member and called every number she could find in an attempt to find out if she could still go.
No confirmation was forthcoming.
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She had received a letter from her GP saying she was able to travel to NSW, however, being unable to drive herself, there was no clarity regarding if she could designate a driver to take her.
The Ensign put this question to the Victorian Health Minister's office on Friday, however, the response did not include any information on a designated driver.
It did confirm she could travel without self-isolating on her return, but without confirmation someone could drive her she was still unaware if she could attend.
That confusion went on for several days, until Monday, when State member for Euroa Steph Ryan managed to track down information from Victoria's Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton confirming that Ms Greenway and a driver could go to Albury - provided they did not leave the NSW border area.
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While that was a huge weight off Anne-Marie's shoulders, she had been put through days of unnecessary stress and worry that had prevented her from sleeping.
Ms Greenway said for someone who was undergoing serious medical treatment, and had been for some time, the added stress did not help at all.
“This was the pinnacle of a bad year,” she said.
“Back in march I had a blood test and my oncologist phoned me and said get to Wangaratta hospital emergency immediately.
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“They said I had total organ failure, I was dying.
“When I arrived they tried to get me to sign a do-not-resuscitate form because I’ve already got terminal cancer in the left breast and they basically said I won’t be qualifying for any organ donation.
“I didn’t sign it, luckily, as I did need to be resuscitated later that night when I had a heart attack. I was in there for just over five weeks.
“I came back out, got on the road to recovery and spent several weeks slowly getting a bit better, until I was back on form again.
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“Then I had a bone scan for my original breast cancer and they picked up a new one in the right breast this time.
“Within two weeks I was booked in for another mastectomy.
“You keep thinking you’ve got to the end of it, and then you haven’t got to the end of it, and something else comes up.
“Then I think all I’ve got to do is get through the next six weeks with all the radiation treatment and suddenly I'm told I'm now not in the border bubble, and might not be able to have any radiation treatment.”
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Ms Greenway only found out about the border bubble changing when a friend emailed her a webpage, stating Benalla Rural City was no longer part of it.
“Within the next couple of hours I did a lot of searching around and found that yes that was true,” she said.
“But there was no mention of anything stating if people could cross the border for medical treatment.
“I spoke with my GP this morning and she did me the letter to say I could go.”
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At that stage there was still no confirmation on designated drivers.
Ms Greenway had been offered lifts by community members in Goorambat, but could not take them up out of fear they would have to self-isolate for 14 days, and would be unable to work.
She was forced to struggle with the worry until Monday, when she got the news she needed to hear.
“I hadn't slept worrying about if I could make my appointments,” she said.
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“My message to those making these decisions would be to think about the people who are sick first.
“Not just sick with COVID, but sick with cancer. There are a lot of people in Benalla who regularly travel up to Albury for treatment.
“I know of others and they will have exactly the same situation.
“Yes COVID is bad, but we’re already dying of something.
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“Four year's ago I was given a life expectancy of two years. So I'm already on borrowed time.
“I am quite happy and forward thinking, but there are lots of people in a similar situation who are really struggling.
“If the instructions that came out when a border was closed, or when restrictions were introduced, included information for people with serious medical issues it would be much better.
“I know they can't cover everything, but if they can give information on hairdressers and beauticians appointments surely they can include information for people who have cancer.”
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