Breast cancer battle leads mother to clinical trial to protect daughters

A Mildura mother of two has been living with breast cancer since 2024, after a subtle nipple change that doctors initially attributed to hormonal shifts during IVF. Bec Pickering, 43, learned she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation, a hereditary alteration that significantly raises the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Her diagnosis set off months of treatment, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiotherapy, all while caring for her young daughters, Daphne, four, and Dottie, two. In November 2025, she underwent surgery to remove her ovaries as part of ongoing efforts to beat cancer.

Family history on both sides underscored the stakes: Bec's paternal grandmother died in 1973, and her father, Roger, is diagnosed with prostate cancer—a disease linked to BRCA2 mutations. On her mother's side, Bec's mother Jill was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. Seeking to help future generations, Bec joined Breast Cancer Trials' OLIO clinical trial, which tests whether adding new therapies to standard preoperative chemotherapy can improve outcomes for young, premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer. The trial uses remote telehealth pre-screening, allowing Bec to stay in Mildura rather than travel to Melbourne. "Clinical trials are what give me hope, and it could help future generations survive breast cancer," she said.

Researchers say the OLIO trial could offer access to additional therapies that may improve survival and long-term outcomes for Bec's cancer subtype. Julie Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer - Fundraising at Breast Cancer Trials, noted, "The type of breast cancer Bec has carries a high risk of recurrence, and existing treatments are often not enough. The OLIO trial offers women like Bec the chance to access additional innovative therapies that may improve survival and long-term outcomes."

Daughters Daphne and Dottie will be able to be tested for the BRCA2 gene mutation when they turn 18, allowing them to better understand their own future risk. Jill described watching Bec through treatment as painful but hopeful: "Watching Bec, I see how far treatment has come, but it's still so hard. We need research to find better, kinder answers for breast cancer."

Beyond Bec's personal story, the Christmas Appeal highlights the ongoing need for research funding. "People facing breast cancer need new treatments and cures that can save lives and protect future generations, and this is only possible through breast cancer clinical trials research," Callaghan said. The Australian Women's Health Diary, which supports the cause, has raised $20.5 million over 26 years to fund breast cancer trials and improve outcomes for Australians diagnosed with the disease.