When Caro McCourtie experienced discomfort in her chest and an intermittent burning sensation while lying face-down during yoga, her first thought was, “Maybe my new crop tops are too tight.”
Just weeks later, after following her GP’s advice to self-fund a private ultrasound, Caro sat completely shocked as a surgeon explained it was breast cancer – and the tumour already measured seven centimetres.
“November 2, 2022 was that storybook, or rather nightmare moment, when my life changed in an instant,” remembers Caro, 57, who had always been vigilant with her health, performing regular self checks.
Just 15 months earlier, she’d had a clear mammogram. However, Caro has since learned that with dense breasts, she had a higher risk from the start. “Many years ago in my early forties in Australia, I found a perfectly round, grape-sized ball in my breast. I had been lying in bed doing a routine check. It was fortunately just a cyst, but it was at that ultrasound the radiologist first informed me my breasts were dense.
“I didn’t really know what that meant, except for thinking it may explain why so many times I’d be on the receiving end of people asking me if I had fake boobs.”
It’s not always the case, but dense breasts can appear firmer or feel lumpier.
Caro became used to technicians complaining during appointments, as dense breast tissue appears white on a mammogram, making it harder to get a good image. But, she never knew about the risks associated with it.
“After going through cancer treatment, I have now learned dense breasts have more cells that can turn into abnormal, cancerous cells. But I was never informed that having dense breasts increased my risk of getting breast cancer by four to six times. I have also discovered the sea of white I would see in my mammograms means it’s easier for breast cancer to remain hidden, as breast cancer also shows up as white.”
Executive coach and professional speaker Caro has experienced this first-hand. During her self-funded ultrasound, a “weird-looking shape” that warranted a biopsy was detected, but the mammogram and 3D mammogram, conducted at the same appointment, both showed no sign of abnormality.
Since being diagnosed, Caro has undergone a mastectomy and reconstruction of her left breast, surgery to remove axillary lymph nodes and cancer in her inframammary tissue, and an intense treatment regime of chemotherapy and radiation. She’ll also be on oestrogen-stripping medication for 10 years.
Despite everything, Caro has found various ways to hold onto joy.
“What kept me going is I just really want to help other people. Not just in cancer, but in life and their careers to achieve their goals.”
But she’s devastated she didn’t know more about dense breasts before it was too late.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists has recommended mandating density reporting. However, in Aotearoa, professionals only tell women about their density if they have a mammogram privately. So, alongside Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition and Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, Caro is calling for BreastScreen Aotearoa to inform women if they have dense breasts so those who can’t afford private healthcare don’t miss out on potentially life-saving information.
Until then, Caro hopes sharing her story will encourage other women to ask about their density.
“It upsets me that no one ever advised me that it’s best practice for women with dense breasts to have different forms of screening,” she says. “If I’d known this, I would have chosen to self-fund. It’s a no-brainer. I would have found the money if it meant protecting my health and life, both things I value massively.”
Despite her frustrations, Caro is grateful for the care she received after diagnosis.
“Both the public medical team, and the private surgeon and his team have been amazing. They’ve worked hard to save my life; they’ve been supportive, respectful and kind. My medical team works to a 10-year survival rate. Having done all the treatments as advised, I have a 58 percent chance of seeing in the next 10 years.”
It’s a sobering statistic, but Caro refuses to let it consume her life.
“I’m delighted to be alive, and I’m excited about what is on the horizon for me. I’m also learning to live with the valid fear of the cancer returning,” she shares.
And for however long she has left, the inspiring Aucklander is determined to use her experience to help others.
“I will lend my voice and advocate where I can so that hopefully you, dear readers, if you have dense breasts or know someone who has, will never have to experience this for yourselves.”