Glamorous Model, 36, Beats Breast Cancer, Then Competes In World’s Most Dangerous Sailing Race: ‘This Is Going To Be The Most Ultimate Experience’

“I’m officially cancer free. I had surgery just over three weeks ago. All the doctors and nurses, they knew how important Sydney to Hobart was to me, so we were able to fast track [treatment] after getting diagnosed,” Seiffert told The Sydney Morning Herald before the big event, which took place on Boxing Day (December 26), a holiday which derives from when the wealthy used to box up gifts and hand them out to the poor.

“If the surgery was a week later, I wouldn’t be in the race,” she continued. “I’m more up for the challenge than ever after what I’ve just been through. If I can handle that, beat [cancer], then I’m solid.”

Seiffert, whose team will be raising money for the McGrath Foundation (an Australian breast cancer support and education charity), was determined to compete in the race despite being diagnosed with breast cancer on November 10.

Luckily, she was able to undergo an emergency lumpectomy before cancer spread to her lymph nodes.

And now, after being declared cancer-free and currently in the middle of radiotherapy sessions, she admits her experience with the disease has given her a new outlook on life.

“It’s also made me a better person, I’m much more grateful for the small things,” she told the Herald.

Before setting sail, Seiffert admitted she’s looking forward to the race.

“This is going to be the best experience that I’ve ever had with my dad,” Seiffert explained. “I’ve only been sailing with him since July and I’ve clocked nearly 1000 racing miles with him.”

She continued, “But this is going to be the ultimate experience, and it’s something that I’ll remember forever. There’s no other better bonding than being stuck on the boat in the middle of the ocean and chaos with your dad.”

Surgery for Breast Cancer Treatment

Seiffert underwent emergency lumpectomy surgery and had her lymph nodes removed following her breast cancer diagnosis.

The glam model, who is in the middle of radiotherapy treatments, was declared cancer-free a few weeks back after a tumor in her breast was successfully removed.

A lumpectomy and a mastectomy are common surgical treatments for cancer of the breast that involve the full removal of a breast or a lump from the breast, respectively.

Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove a cancer or abnormal tissue from the breast. It’s also known as breast-conserving surgery because, unlike mastectomy, only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue is removed. The surgery typically takes about an hour and is an outpatient procedure–meaning a patient will be able to go home the same day. “It’s abnormal to have a lot of pain after a lumpectomy,” says Dr. Sarah Cate, a breast surgeon at Mount Sinai Health System.

For early stage breast cancer, studies have shown that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective a treatment in preventing a recurrence of breast cancer as mastectomy.

 

Life After A Lumpectomy

A mastectomy is a type of treatment that involves the full or partial surgical removal of one or both breasts. A unilateral mastectomy refers to the removal of one breast. Some people may opt to have reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy.

Choosing Surgery or Other Treatments First for Breast Cancer

Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, explained to SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that there are many factors which help determine which breast cancer treatment should be given to someone diagnosed.

Certain subtypes of the disease are better treated with chemotherapy prior to surgery, like a double mastectomy. But the majority of breast cancer occurrences are treated with surgery first. “Breast cancer is multiple different subtypes,” Dr. Port explained. “These different subtypes can behave extremely differently, almost like different diseases.”

One benefit of doing surgery first is that doctors can determine what additional treatment is needed after performing surgery and seeing the development of the cancer from a surgical perspective.

“We know that there’s no one size fits all,” said Dr. Port, “and we customize and tailor treatment, both the treatments that people get and the order that they get them, based on the subtypes of cancer and a variety of different factors.”

Dr. Port says that subtypes of the disease like HER2-positive breast cancer or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) may benefit from non-surgical treatments first. “It’s very tailored, personalized precision medicine approach, for not only the person, but also the tumor,” Dr. Port said.

Surgery or Chemo First? How is Breast Cancer Treatment Order Determined

Recovering after Cancer Surgery

Cancer can be a life-altering event, and everyone will have their own relationship with the cancer journey. For people who have undergone a surgery like a lumpectomy as part of their cancer treatment, it can be an emotional journey, too.

Dr. Sarah Cate from Mount Sinai told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview about the process of breast cancer surgery and the recovery period.

Speaking about a lumpectomy, she said, “As the breast surgeon, I make a cut in the breast and remove the cancer, and then I will do certain plastic surgery techniques to rearrange the tissue just in that area to make it look nice.”

Dr. Cate said that the signs of surgery are subtle. “A lot of the time, the stitches are underneath the skin, and I use a skin glue. And that’s also taken from plastic surgery techniques for the best possible appearance of the scar.”

Consideration is given to the placement of scars, she added. “I also place the scars, most of the time, by the areola, or maybe at the bottom of the breast so that patients can wear V-necks or bathing suits, and they really cannot see the scar after some time.”

The recovery period for breast cancer surgery depends upon which type of surgery it is. Dr. Cate said that lumpectomy patients “are at the outpatient surgery center for about four hours that day, but they might stay longer if they’re not feeling well, or if they’re nauseated, or if their pain is not controlled.”

Keeping a Positive Attitude Through Cancer

We love how Seiffert is showing her fans and her community how people can thrive after battling cancer. Focusing on hope and maintaining a positive attitude, can always help during and after fighting cancer.

Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset and gratitude can positively impact a cancer prognosis.

Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, tells SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” he says.

“But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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