How My Breast Cancer Was Diagnosed

Blanche D'Alpuget, widow of former PM Bob Hawke, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 76.

Ms D'Alpuget said the first sign of the cancer was when she discovered a lump growing in her breast nine months after her husband's death.

"I was just taking off my nightie one Sunday morning... I thought, oh, that lump wasn't there yesterday, I thought it was like a mushroom had come up overnight."

"Fortunately, I had a doctor's appointment two days afterwards... as soon as I had the ultrasound, I could tell from the woman's face that the news wasn't good," she said.

Dr Ling says: “Breast lump is the most common sign of breast cancer. But 1 in 6 breast cancers present with other signs such as nipple discharge, skin dimpling or an area of thickening on the breast.”

TIP: It is important to be breast aware, meaning checking your breasts regularly so that you are familiar with the usual look and feel of your breasts, and can notice unusual changes

Photo credit: Simon Bernhardt

While breast cancer impacts 1 in 7 Aussie women, many men don’t realise that ‘breast cancer happens to blokes too.’ Men are also notorious “doctor dodgers” with one recent international study showing men are only half as likely as women to go to the doctor over a 2 year period.

Former NSW Premier Nick Greiner, 73, is a case in point. “I didn’t even think twice about the tiny spot of blood on my white shirt in May of 2013,” said Mr Greiner prior to taking up his new post as Australia’s New York consul-general in 2021.

“But when it appeared a couple of months later, I knew it was time to see the doctor.

“When she suggested a mammogram, I completely ignored that part of the conversation and returned to work.

“Six months later, I noticed a lump below my left nipple. When the doctor’s office called in with the biopsy results, I was so surprised to get a breast cancer diagnosis because there was no family history.”

Now with his pathology results clear for 6 years, Mr Greiner encourages all men to recognise “breast cancer is not a genderless disease.”

Dr Ling says: “Male breast cancer kills 33 Aussie men every year. And the time from symptoms to diagnosis is 19 months, a lot longer than women generally take to present with symptoms.”

TIP: "For wives and partners, it’s important to realise that quite often you will be the ones that get men to seek treatment, because they may not do it themselves,” said Mr Greiner.

Beloved Aussie entertainer Olivia Newton-John had to put her concert tour on hold in 2017 when the back pain that initially caused her to postpone the first half of her tour turned out to be breast cancer that had metastasized to her sacrum.

Dr Ling says: “Around 1 in 20 women presents with metastatic breast cancer from the start. This means that the previously undiagnosed breast cancer cells have spread to the other areas such as the bones, lungs or liver. Bone metastasis from breast cancer is usually to the 'central' skeleton such as spine, hip/ pelvic bones, and ribs. Olivia’s cancer was a recurrence rather than metastatic from the start. But she is living and inspirational proof that people with Stage IV breast cancer can still live a productive life.”

TIP: Back pain is quite a common symptom, but back pain from breast cancer metastasis is more likely to be constant, not associated with injury and tends to get worse over time.

Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi

Australia’s Queen of the Kaftan, silk pyjamas and statement dresses has an empire that stretches across the globe and dresses stars such as Oprah, Beyonce and Lilly Allen. But Camilla Franks’ world crashed in 2018, when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer after discovering a lump while breastfeeding her newborn Luna Gypsy. “It kept growing. I was told over and over that it was mastitis,” she said.

Dr Ling says: “Breast cancers during pregnancy or in the 12 months postpartum can often be more advanced at diagnosis (larger tumours and lymph node positive). This is likely due to delays in diagnosis.”

TIP: If you have breast changes that last more than one menstrual cycle or a lump that is getting bigger, make sure you see your doctor and get answers you are satisfied with. If you have any nagging doubts, get a second opinion.

Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi