PR boss Roxy Jacenko has opened up about inadvertently inviting her four-year-old daughter to feel the cancerous lump in her breast when she discovered it.
It was overnight revealed that the 36-year-old mother of two has been diagnosed with the disease, only three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was jailed for insider trading.
Mamamia reported she broke the difficult news to Curtis and their daughter Pixie, 4, while sparing two-year-old Hunter because he is too young to understand.
Jacenko has now described the moment she found the lump in the shower two weeks ago.
Roxy Jacenko shares a bedtime clip with her kids. Post continues after video…
She told the Daily Mail she was unsure what it was and asked Pixie to feel it.
“When I found the lump two weeks ago and got out of the shower, I asked Pixie to feel it as I was a little confused to what it actually was,” she said.
“Her instant reaction was ‘eugggh mum!'”
Amanda McLeod found out she had the breast cancer gene when she was in her 20s. She tells Monique Bowley about what it was like having double mastectomy and how she recovered.
With Curtis in prison, Jacenko said she she had no one else at home to turn to at the time.
“I guess I showed her as my initial options were Pixie or Hunter. I then called my mum and she raised her concern,” she said.
“I didn’t think I was letting her feel cancer at the time, you just don’t think that at 36.”
Meanwhile, the Sweaty Betty PR director said she would not let her cancer treatments get in the way of her work.
“I don’t do time off, it’s not in my blood, I have worked since I was 14.”
Roxy Jacenko
Top Comments
I think saying "I don't do time off" is a bit presumptuous. If she needs surgery and/or chemo and/or radiotherapy she may find she is unable to do anything but rest and recover despite wanting to continue normal life. Personally, I wouldn't be making absolute statements, but in any case, I would imagine she is frightened and scared of even more upheaval in her life over which she has no control.
I wish Roxy a speedy recovery. During this difficulty, I hope that she invests in time with her family, rather than getting the best attendance record at work. The ROI's better.
Roxy, I don't want to poke at someone when they're having a difficult time, but can I suggest, rather than spending your time and money on all this PR fluff to restore your brand's relatability or popularity, why not grasp this as an opportunity to do something real, as a person?
Philanthropy in the area of breast cancer, or cancer in general. Do some pro bono work to provide PR for a cancer charity or donate money. Let the world know that you're really not all about yourself or money, which unfortunately, is your brand's perception right now. I say this in the context of not knowing you at all personally, only having familiarity with what is spun.
A genuine and long term profile boost for all the right reasons. Worth some thought?