Canberra woman Peta Bryan was holidaying on the French Riveria last year, celebrating turning 50. She was with her was husband Markus, who had also turned 50, although, he likes to point out, five weeks later than his wife.
The happy couple was having the time of their lives. But something was niggling Peta. She couldn't shake a sense of unease.
"My left breast felt a bit sore and a little weird or hard under the nipple," she said.
She had no history of breast cancer in her family. She thought it might be symptoms of menopause. But that sinking feeling wouldn't leave her.
"I think sometimes you know something's not right, so off I went to the doctor and got the ball rolling," she said. And that ball rolled very fast.
Her GP didn't muck around. In one day, Peta had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. The diagnosis came back - she had breast cancer.
She was diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) with high-grade central necrosis, meaning the cancer cells were growing quickly.
"I felt a little numb when my doctor read the results," she said. "I remember thinking: how is this even possible?"
Within a month, Peta had a left breast mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction and a sentinel lymph node biopsy. Despite the tumour being quite large, she luckily required no radiation or chemotherapy after surgery.
Peta said she didn't feel alone in her experience, as her family and friends offered so much love and support.
"I turned to my husband Markus a lot. He was amazing from the start. He's there for my negative moments and my positive moments," she said.
An accounts clerk with Gerald Slavin in Belconnen, Peta is due to have her first check-up scans at the end of June.
"I'm feeling pretty confident," she said.
Just eight months since her diagnosis, Peta is remarkably upbeat and positive. She's not taking life for granted. And she's already giving back.
The Hawker resident is among more than 6000 people across the nation who are taking part in the Big Bold Walk this June to help support life-saving breast cancer research.
"I'm just excited to have a future," Peta said.
"My story could've easily been so different. I feel so lucky and grateful to be able to continue making memories with family and friends, plan future trips ... just living life doing the things love with the people I love."
Part of that is appreciating the support she received during her treatment. She said the breast care and after-care nurses at the North Canberra Hospital were amazing, helping her in anyway they could, including making house calls.
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Peta also signed up for the Big Bold Walk, personally raising more than $2000.
The Big Bold Walk is a month-long walking challenge throughout June. Participants can choose to walk 100km, 150km or 200km (or a goal of their choice) across the month for the 56 people who are diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Australia
It's free to enter, with participants fundraising to support independent clinical trials research. Peta walks before and after work, with Markus by her side.
"I think the trial research is very important - that's how we better cancer treatments, discover safer treatments, and improve survival rates," Peta said.
So far, nationally, almost 50,000km has been logged as part of this current Big Bold Walk, with more than $770,000 raised for Breast Cancer Trials, a group of breast cancer doctors and researchers based in Australia and New Zealand. Breast Cancer Trials is on a mission to find new and better treatments and prevention strategies for every person affected by breast cancer, spokeswoman Kate Campbell said.
"One in seven women in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. That's why we want to see a world where no more lives are cut short by breast cancer," Kate said.
"Whether you're a casual walker or a long-distance champion, you can join people like Peta this June and make every step count."
And Peta has her own message. "You've got to check your boobs," she said. "I can't stress it enough. I tell everyone that now."
Support or sign up for the Big Bold Walk here.
