Personal cancer story
Louise's breast screening story
Breast screening saved my life.
Louise is grateful she attended her breast screening appointment despite COVID-19 as her breast cancer was found early, when it was easier to treat. She is using her experience to encourage others to get checked if they have received an invitation.
The 56-year-old lawyer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
She received an invitation from BreastScreen during the COVID-19 restrictions, after having a dream that she had breast cancer earlier that year.
She felt hesitant about attending the appointment because of the risks associated with COVID-19 and raised her concerns with the team at BreastScreen. They reassured her that it was safe to attend her appointment and highlighted the importance of early detection through screening.
LouiseIt was all very clean and I felt completely safe. I’m actually really grateful that I went to my appointment as they found an abnormality."
After further testing, Louise was diagnosed with stage one invasive breast cancer. It was fortunate that she found her breast cancer early through screening as it meant she had treatment options available.
“It was lucky that I caught it when I did, because even treatment for stage one breast cancer is quite intensive – it could have been a lot worse,” she said.
“I’ve been able to have two surgeries and four weeks of radiation treatment; all during COVID-19, all of it completely safe, all of it lifesaving for me.”
Louise is using her experience to encourage other women aged 50-74 to prioritise their health and book their BreastScreen appointment when they receive an invitation in the mail.
“It’s not something you should put off, during COVID-19 or not,” Louise said.
“It should be at the top of your to-do list. It really does save lives, just go and get a check.”
If you’re aged 50-74, you should take part in breast screening every two years. If you missed or put off your breast cancer screening during the pandemic, now more than ever is the time to prioritise your health and tick it off your to-do list.
If you’ve received an invitation, call 13 20 50 to book your appointment.
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