A Sunshine Coast breast cancer survivor has shared her story of recovery, to inspire other women to get a breast screen as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In August 2023 mother of two Vanessa Eldridge booked in for her routine appointment with BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast.
“I was 45 at the time, I’d had screens every 2 years before, so I wasn’t expecting anything, and I got a call back about a week or so later,” she said.
“When I arrived at the centre for the follow up, I was pretty much told straight away that I had cancer, and they didn’t know anything about how far it had spread or how fast it was growing but it was definitely cancer - which obviously came as a massive shock.”
Thankfully, the cancer was caught early, and it hadn’t yet reached Vanessa’s lymph nodes.
She underwent two lumpectomy procedures, had her lymph nodes removed and went through 20 rounds of radiation.
“So it’s more than a year down the track now so I am technically free of cancer right at this moment, but I am still suffering the side effects so I am on medication now for 5 years which has side effects, I’m starting back at work just part-time, my family is adjusting, my youngest child is in fear a lot of the time – any time I complain of any sort of pain it’s is the cancer back mum?” Vanessa said.
“Some good things have come out of it too, I’ve become more aware of my body, I’ve made some new friends, I’ve learned to live life a bit differently and appreciate things more and I guess I’m on a bit of a mission now to spread the word.”
Vanessa has no family history of breast cancer, and previously had genetic testing done that came back negative.
She is now passionate about encouraging other women, especially aged 40 and over, to book in for their regular breast screen, like she did.
“Some women that I’ve spoken to since this happened to me have said I’m not having a mammogram because it hurts too much, and my response is well it hurts a lot less than having cancer, and it hurts a lot less than dying.”
BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast Senior Medical Officer Dr Lisa Hammerton said a common myth they see is women thinking they don’t need to be screened as there’s no family history of breast cancer.
“We know that family history only accounts for about 4 per cent of all breast cancers and 9 out of 10 women do not have that family history,” Dr Hammerton said.
Dr Hammerton said other common myths include thinking you can’t have a mammogram because you have implants, or think your breasts are too small.
“We know that the greatest risk factor for breast cancer is being a female and getting older, so if we all live long enough one in 7 of us will be exposed to a breast cancer diagnosis,” she said.
“Early detection opens up far greater options for treatment that are usually less invasive and more tolerable for our clients.
“Most mammograms can pick up a breast cancer as small as 3-millimetres, whereas most patients might not feel a lump until it is 2-centimetres and the difference in treatment options and the difference in survival rates between a 3-millimetre and a 2-centimetre cancer is quite striking.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is all about shining a light on the devastating impact breast cancer has on thousands of Australians every day.
BreastScreen Queensland offers free, high quality breast screening to women aged over 40, who haven’t noticed any changes to their breasts.
You don’t need a referral, and appointments only take around 20 minutes. To book an appointment call 13 20 50 or visit www.breastscreen.qld.gov.au.
Fast facts
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females in Australia. 1 out of every 7 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.
- Just over 50% of eligible Sunshine Coast women have a regular breast screen with BSQ. In 21-22 the average participation rate on the Sunshine Coast was 51.1%
- In the 2023/24 financial year BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast:
- screened 36,871 Sunshine Coast women.
- recalled 1811 (4.9%) of these women for further assessment.
- diagnosed 269 cancers (0.73% of women screened and 14.8% of women assessed). - BSQ has free services located at Caboolture, Caloundra, Gympie, Maroochydore, Nambour and Noosaville. Our mobile service also visits 13 other areas on the Sunshine Coast every year.
- Breast cancer can develop at any age but is more likely as you get older with about 80% of cancers found in women over the age of 50.