Denise's Story

"I didn’t have a lump," said Denise Goodsell. One morning while performing breast self examination Denise discovered an area of thickening in her right breast. When she pressed on the area the skin didn’t bounce back." Denise regularly went for yearly breast check ups with her GP but decided this couldn’t wait. Her GP thought the area of thickening was within normal limits, but suggested a mammogram for peace of mind.

The mammogram came back clear with the suggestion that the thickened area might be fibrous tissue. An ultra sound supported that opinion.

Denise was referred by her GP to Dr Owen Ung, a surgeon specialising in breast cancer at the NSW Breast Cancer Institute, for further assessment.

Dr Ung reviewed her mammogram and ultrasound and agreed with the radiologist’s report. As Denise was sitting up from the examination, Dr Ung noticed a slight swelling of the breast around the area of thickening. Although there was not a discrete lump, there was a visible swelling in the area of concern and so a fine needle biopsy was performed.

The fine needle test confirmed the presence of cancer cells. A formal biopsy showed that most of the disease was early, but unfortunately it was widely spread. Conserving the breast was therefore not an option and mastectomy was recommended. (If the cancer is small enough the breast can usually be preserved).

"It was just shocking," said Denise, "everybody was telling me I was normal and here I was with the ‘big’ cancer. It was hard to believe that the week previously I had nothing wrong. I had no health problems and I didn’t fit into any high-risk categories."

On diagnosis of her breast cancer, Denise experienced a series of emotions, "I couldn’t see or feel a lump, it was terrifying. Then I was angry. I was crying, my husband was upset and I hardly knew what was being said," stated Denise. "Dr Ung was telling me that we had probably caught it early but I couldn’t understand why he was telling me to have my breast off. I didn’t think for one minute that I would have to have my breast off."

Up until this stage Denise had not discussed the possibility that she could have cancer with her family. "My 16 year old son said to me to have my breast off if it was going to save my life. He was blunt, but to him it was the bottom line. My children were coping well with the situation so I decided to have the mastectomy".

Choices about further treatment following surgery then needed to be made as cancer cells had been found in one lymph node under Denise’s arm. Chemotherapy treatment or removal of her ovaries were options. Denise made the choice to have her ovaries removed which meant she would have a premature menopause. She remains philosophical however, "If that is all I have to cope with then it is a small price to pay".

The future looks good for Denise. She will have yearly mammograms and 3 monthly check ups. "Once the breast was removed I felt happier. I couldn’t wait, as the mental anguish is terrible. It’s only a breast. If you put it in perspective it’s only a body part and if I was to have an arm or a leg off it would be more of an adjustment to my lifestyle. I try to keep it in perspective as I have had my children.

"My family are coping with it very well. We talk about it and I have shown them the scar. I have had a prosthesis fitted and I feel very fortunate," said Denise.