Peta Wilson has learned firsthand what a lifesaver regular breast checks can be.
In 2017, a then 41-year-old Ms Wilson was busy with her career and being a mother of two kids under the age of six.
She had no family history of breast cancer and hadn't paid much attention to her breast health.
"I was blissfully unaware of my own risk. I was over 40 but had never had a mammogram and didn't conduct regular checks,"
she said.
"I was an A cup so I didn't think there was enough there to even worry!"
Then she felt a lump.
"I woke up at 2am one morning and felt compelled to touch a lump in my left breast. It was the size of a pea."
The Sydney woman spoke to one of her friends at work about it, who insisted that Ms Wilson visit a doctor to get it checked.
She managed to secure an appointment after much effort, and tests were done. The young doctor told Ms Wilson she believed the lump was "likely cancer" but that she'd have to wait a few days over the long weekend to confirm the test results.
Within a week of first finding the lump to sitting in her GP's office, Ms Wilson was told she had breast cancer.
Half of NSW women overdue on breast screening
The NSW Cancer Institute told the ABC that currently 48.4 per cent of women in NSW are overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screen.
It's a concerning statistic considering the rates of breast cancer in Australia.
In 2024 in NSW alone, 6,534 people were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 987 people died from breast cancer.
BreastScreen NSW program manager Anthea Temple said it's crucial for women to feel empowered to focus on their health.
"Particularly women over 40 are very busy in their lifestyle, as part of the sandwich generation — they've often still got kids to look after as well as elderly parents. There's so much happening that they don't prioritise their own health.
"We understand that people are doing the best they can. We just want to raise awareness," Ms Temple said.
BreastScreen NSW services are eligible to women aged 40 to 74 years. Anyone over 75 is also welcome, but are recommended to speak with their doctor first.
Women are encouraged to get a mammogram outside of these two-yearly screenings if they notice something abnormal in their breast region or if their doctor has advised for more regular check-ups.
'Early detection is essential'
Dr Railya Mousina is a specialist breast and general surgeon who works at hospitals in Strathfield and Randwick.
"The BreastScreen NSW program is designed for screening asymptomatic women — so any woman can go and get a mammographic scan for free without needing a referral from her GP. But the uptake is unfortunately only up to 50 per cent," she said.
"Plus, throughout COVID many clinics were shut and we certainly had cases where women presented a lot later than ideal."
Dr Mousina said regular screening is crucial, because early detection can save lives.
"It's helpful to diagnose women at the stage where cells are pre-cancerous and non-invasive. Usually breast cancer spreads through the lymph nodes so that's how it usually travels to the blood system and then can potentially travel to other parts of the body.
"Mammography can detect things as small as a grain of rice."
Across NSW there are at least 50 breast screening sites and 10 mobile vans.
There are also 37 future mobile vans statewide that have limited scheduled dates of availability for the new year.
'Don't wait'
Following her diagnosis, Ms Wilson insisted on having a double mastectomy, with an oncologist encouraging her to "follow her instincts".
"My kids were young, it scared them," she said, also crediting her husband Leon's support during the challenging time.
"I put on a brave face through all of it but in reality it haunts me every day. Every headache is scary, hospitals give me PTSD."
After chemotherapy, the surgery and an arduous recovery period, Ms Wilson received the news she had longed for.
She was in remission, and has continued to be for the past eight years.
"If you're unfortunate enough to be diagnosed make sure you have the right team of doctors working with you. It can make all the difference in your journey, and final outcomes."
Now Ms Wilson wants everyone to know this.
"Don't wait. Early detection can save lives. Regular mammograms and self-checks are the best things you can do," she said.
"When I spoke to all the women at my work following my diagnosis, not one of them had ever had a mammogram before. Not one. It's a message we need to get out to the masses."
