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Bree's story
Bree was a housemate on Big Brother 2004. In the following year she became a host of Channel Ten’s “Friday Night Live”. It was during the first season of hosting this show that a doctor watching the show noticed she had a large lump on her thyroid gland. The doctor tried for one year to contact Bree through many avenues, without success.
One year on, the doctor coincidentally saw a patient who was connected to Big Brother. The doctor asked the patient to urge Bree to see a doctor as he thought something was not right with her and it had something to do with her thyroid. Bree had never even heard of a thyroid gland and thought the thyroid gland must be behind the ears, where other glands are.
Eventually, Bree went to see her doctor and had tests. After three biopsies, two scans and a lot of contemplating, she was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Bree had a 1.5cm tumour on the left side of the gland and had the first surgery to remove that side of the gland, which definitely confirmed diagnosis. The surgeon then decided on a second surgery to remove the other side of the gland, resulting in finding a smaller tumour on the right hand side and confirmed cancer through both sides of the glands.
Once she recovered from surgery, Bree had radioactive iodine treatment to kill any remaining malignant cells of the cancer and any thyroid gland left behind. She has recovered very well. The radiation was not a pleasant experience, being confined to an isolation room for several days after the treatment is one Bree hopes she will not have to experience again.
Bree was contacted by The ATF in the hope of becoming an ambassador and spokesperson for the foundation, to bring awareness to the Australian public on the importance of good thyroid health. Bree has accepted this position with open arms and is more than happy to do whatever she can for The ATF. Bree has thyroid disease throughout her family and is now campaigning and educating her family with the information given to her by The ATF.
Bree is the host of Big Brother Friday Night Live and will also host Big Brother Sunday Night Up Late 2007.