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Christina_BCNA's avatar
Christina_BCNA
Community Manager
24 days ago

📝Survey: Were you Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Between Screens?

Breast Cancer Network Australia is inviting women in our network to share their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer soon after receiving a BreastScreen Australia “all clear” result , often called an interval cancer. 

✨ In March, a BCNA‑trained Consumer Representative will be presenting at the BreastScreen Australia Conference, bringing real women's voices directly into discussions about screening, communication, and care. To ensure the presentation truly reflects these experiences from across Australia, we’re gathering insights from our Online Network community who have received an interval cancer diagnosis. 

📝By completing this short survey, you’ll help shape the presentation and strengthen the messages delivered to clinicians, program leaders, policymakers, and researchers. Your voice matters – help shape a national conversation 💬

👉 Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DXXGBZW 
🗓 Closes: Friday, 06 February 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience and helping to shape the future of breast cancer healthcare🙏

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6 Replies

  • EllieEmu's avatar
    EllieEmu
    Member
    17 days ago

    We’ll keep hanging there please Arlie as this dreadful, for me, roller coaster ride has just about brought me unstuck but I keep telling myself, I will get there and I will. Lovely nattering. 

    • arpie's avatar
      arpie
      Member
      17 days ago

      EllieEmu​ 

      Yep, it is a real roller coaster ride, that is for sure - and we didn't even buy a ticket to ride it!  grrr 

      If you feel sad/distressed, give our Helpline a bell on 1800 500 258 for a 'private chat' ... sometimes just talking about it with someone (that you don't know) can REALLY help as chatting with friends & family who've never been thru a cancer diagnosis, really just 'don't get it'  😔  xx

      Feel free to Whack up ANY questions you have on ANY of your treatment (I'd suggest you start a new 'dedicated post' rather than continue on this one) and everyone will do their best (with our combined knowledge from the Brains Trust) to help you out xx

      take care & all the best

  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    19 days ago

    EllieEmu​   Yep, I reckon that qualifies you, as the R/H side was missed in the initial screening.  So fill in the survey, for sure.

    Mine was totally missed by the rural BreastScreen Bus (who only use 2D Mammography) and if I am totally honest with myself, it is highly likely that the previous screening had missed it too!  😪

     

    • EllieEmu's avatar
      EllieEmu
      Member
      17 days ago

      Even when I was called back in because of the lumps in the left breast and I underwent more intensive mammograms on both breast still nothing showed on the right side.  Thank got for the last minute MRI and my decision to remove both breast regardless of having no more biopsies etc, as that was the her 2 positive cancer.  
      I’ll fill the survey in now for you, 

      • arpie's avatar
        arpie
        Member
        17 days ago

        Sometimes, You've got to go with your gut feelings on some things - and it looks like you chose right with this one!  Well done YOU for advocating for yourself EllieEmu​ 

        hehe, I don't work for BCNA ..... I'm just a bit of a dinosaur, hanging around 8 years after my own surgery & happy to pass on any tips/info to hopefully help you get thru this bunfight xx 
        Take care & all the best

  • EllieEmu's avatar
    EllieEmu
    Member
    20 days ago

    I was diagnosed at my usual breast screen with a lump in my left breast that after a biopsy became more complicated and so a mastectomy was decided upon.   Because of my concern about a grey unidentified area in the left side I queried the possibility of it also being in the right side even though there was no cancer detected in that breast.  
    Fortunately my newly chosen surgeon agreed with me and we got the results of a rushed MRI two days before my scheduled surgery showing another mass on the right side.  So what started as most likely a lumpectomy on one side turned into a double mastectomy with two day’s notice.  
    Does this qualify me to fill in your survey as I was given the all clear for my right breast which turned out to contain the more aggressive Her 2 positive cancer.
    Talk about scramble one’s head! 

    Jo.