Woman, 44, who lost 25 kilos only to discover a lump in her breast, piled all the weight back ON during cancer battle... before taking to the gym to lose it AGAIN

Rina Gualtieri, 44, lost 25 kilos after getting back to the gym in 2012
After shedding the extra weight Ms Gualtieri noticed a lump in her right breast
A tense 48 hours later she was told she had cancer in both breasts
Twelve weeks of chemo and six weeks of radiation caused her to put on weight
Two years after being diagnosed Ms Gualtieri has lost 25 kilos and is cancer-free

By Matilda Rudd For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:29 GMT, 14 March 2017 | Updated: 03:29 GMT, 14 March 2017

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Rita Gualtieri, 44, spent years losing more than 25 kilos after deciding to take control of her weight back in 2012.

But it wasn't until the Queensland native was at her 'fittest and healthiest', training six days a week at HIIT Australia and doing Muay Thai, that she felt a lump in her right breast.

'I got home from training one day and noticed it. I was trying not to freak out and just told myself to wait until I had it checked out,' Ms Gualtieri told Daily Mail Australia.

The journey so far: Rina Gualtieri lost 25 kilos only to put it back on again when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent intensive chemo

Aside from not being able to exercise while she was being treated, the 44-year-old found losing her hair to be the most painful part of the process

Less than 48 hours later Ms Gualtieri sat in front of her GP who almost 'cried when she read out the results'.

'I was booked in for an emergency surgery a day later and had a lumpectomy to have both lumps removed,' she said.

The 44-year-old also paid $4,000 to have an Oncotype DX done - an experimental US genome test that claims to be able to tell a patient what their best course of cancer treatment is. It's currently not covered by Medicare in Australia.

Before discovering she had breast cancer in 2015, Ms Gualtieri was at her 'fittest and healthiest' exercising up to six times a week

Her dogs Maxx & Milly (pictured) were a source of companionship during the lonely times

'Chemo is worse than the diagnosis so if anything could stop me getting it I was going to try. But the test was inconclusive,' she said.

'The worst part about hearing it was breast cancer is that they can't tell you how you got it. No one knows. So I had to get twelve weeks of chemotherapy.

Instead of wallowing in misery, Ms Gualtieri decided not to take the news lying down.

'I told myself this was my new challenge and I was going to do this the Rina way. So I cut my really long hair to my shoulder and fully prepared to lose it all,' she said.

Look how far she's come: The Queensland investigator lost 25 kilos after finishing the cancer treatment and now leads a happy and healthy life

After 12 weeks of chemo Ms Gualtieri underwent a further six weeks of radiation therapy which she said 'literally burnt a hole in her chest'.

Not only did she lose her hair during this time and spend New Years Eve of 2015 in the hospital, the 44-year-old gained all the weight she'd lost back from taking the steroids and medication to beat cancer.

'I was devastated. To go from such an active lifestyle to barely being able to move was so disheartening.

'Exercise wise I would do some swimming and walking but more often than not I was too sick to exercise,' she said.

During and after chemo: 'I was devastated. To go from such an active lifestyle to barely being able to move was so disheartening'

She was in hospital on New Years Eve one year but wouldn't let the treatment dull her spirits

She also noticed 'chemo brain' creeping up on her. As an investigator for the Queensland government, signs that Ms Gualtieri's memory was slipping became 'truly frightening' for her.

Ms Gualtieri said the power of 'mental strength' is what ultimately convinced her to stay strong.

'I kept saying this is only temporary and you can get through it all. Being able to train again bit by bit was empowering.'

The incredible transformation: During cancer (left) and after cancer (right) show the journey she has been on

She trains back at HIIT Australia in Queensland and feels stronger than ever

When given the all clear from doctors Ms Gualtieri started classes back at HIIT Australia who made major modifications to her sessions, even purchasing a four kilo dumbbell when the heavier weights proved too difficult for her to lift.

'Once you go through something like this you never go back to your old self again. You have to find your new normal. So I meal prepped to fill my body with good food and slowly built my strength up.'

Ms Gualtieri decided to go public with her journey because she didn't want other women to get complacent with their breast checks.

'Rina's Runners' will be walking in the Mother's Day Classic this May as part of a national move to fundraise for breast cancer research

'Even if I only convinced one woman to feel for lumps it would be worth it,' she said.

Two years later and the 44-year-old has once again lost all the weight she gained while undergoing treatment 'and more', with regular updates and transformation pictures posted to her Instagram account.

The inspirational Aussie will also be running in this years Mother's Day Classic which raises money for breast cancer research.

Her team is called 'Rina's Runners' and you can find her fundraiser page here.