Ten years ago she was told a lump in her breast was not cancerous. 

“The first test came back clear and I was thrilled,” Ms Hayden said. 

“The doctor said he was 99 per cent sure I would be OK.” 

But Ms Hayden wasn’t satisfied. 

“Do you think we should get to 100 per cent sure?” she asked. 

Three tests later and Ms Hayden received a positive result. She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. 

“They found the cancer was 7cm long,” she said. 

A decade and six months have passed since March 12, 2004. 

It has also been 10 years since the first Cancer Council Victoria Girls’ Night In event. 

Ms Hayden will host her first event in October. 

Money raised from the night will go towards breast and gynaecological cancer research.

About 71 Girls’ Night In events were held in Ballarat last year, with $22,556 raised. 

“It is a good opportunity to raise awareness and money,” Ms Hayden said. 

“It’s also a good opportunity to get together with people who (may be) going through cancer.” 

Ms Hayden said people had become more aware of breast cancer in the past decade.

“Survival rates have improved and treatments have subtly changed,” she said. 

“People are much more aware.” 

My Hayden will have annual check-ups every year for the rest of her life.

“There was no family history and they don’t know why I was diagnosed,” she said.

Ms Hayden also believes Ballarat is on par with metropolitan areas when it comes to treatment facilities. 

“We have the Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre and the Fiona Elsey Research Centre,” Ms Hayden said. 

More than 5000 Victorian women are diagnosed with breast and gynaecological cancers every year.

Register to host a Girls’ Night In at: www.girlsnightin.com.au. 

kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au