Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with an estimated one in eight females diagnosed by the age of 85.
After receiving a shock cancer diagnosis in March 2023, 34-year-old Mary Chetcuri shares her story to raise awareness of symptoms and encourage women to visit their GP if they notice any changes in their breasts.
Mary's Story
At the time, 34-year-old Mary didn't think much of the lump she felt in her breast.
"There had been a lump that I'd felt, maybe for about a month, but I thought it might just be a cyst or swollen glands. I just assumed it was nothing and would probably go away," she recalls.
I thought there is no way it could be cancer because I'm only 34.
However, when the lump didn't go away and she was awakened in the night by pain, Mary decided it was time to see her GP. She was referred for an urgent biopsy, and the results revealed that it was stage three breast cancer.
"When I saw the oncologist, he said it's quite an aggressive type of breast cancer, which is why it felt like it came out of nowhere," she shares.
As it was a hormone-based cancer, she was given a hormone injection that put her into menopause. Over the next 18 months she had an extensive treatment plan including 16 rounds of higher strength chemotherapy, surgery, a full lymphatic clearance, mastectomy and implant reconstruction, five weeks of radiation and then 14 rounds of low dose chemotherapy. She had to stop her work, travel plans and shares how she felt like her life was put on hold as her only job was "to just focus on staying alive".
A message to get your symptoms checked
Mary shares her experience with breast cancer to show that it can happen to anyone, regardless of age.
She says, "I thought if I had hurried up and gotten it checked earlier, maybe they could have caught it sooner, and the treatment might have been less invasive".
"If you feel something unusual, get it checked. You just don't think it's going to be you, but it can be."
Symptoms to look out for
Some common symptoms to be aware of include:
- A lump or hard area in your breast or underarm, especially if it is only on one side
- A change in the size, shape, or feel of your breast
- A change in the look of your breast, such as redness, rash, or wrinkling of the skin
- Changes to the nipple, including it being pulled inward, leaking, itching, or having a sore that won't heal
- Breast pain or discomfort, especially if it is only on one side
- An area of the breast that feels different from the rest
If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to visit your GP. Early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes.
