Liberal stalwart Michelle Lensink announces breast cancer diagnosis, urges women to have regular screenings

A veteran Liberal MP has announced she has been diagnosed with cancer – and has shared an important health message.

Liberal MLC Michelle Lensink has announced she has breast cancer. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Roy VanDerVegt

Liberal stalwart Michelle Lensink has announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer – and urged other women to keep up-to-date with screenings.

Ms Lensink, 54, said the cancer had been detected early and she was in the care of an excellent specialist.

“While this news came as a shock, cancer affects many in our community and I am grateful for all the work undertaken in this field which provides us with the best chance of beating this disease,” she said on Wednesday evening.

Liberal Michelle Lensink has announced she has been diagnosed with cancer. Picture: Morgan Sette

Ms Lensink said, after experiencing mastitis, she was diagnosed a couple of years ago with breast ectasia – which occurs when the breast ducts become enlarged.

“What’s happened in my case is that the ducts didn’t close up following breastfeeding the way they normally would, and that’s how I ended up with mastitis,” she said.

She said she undertakes regular breast screening and, following a recent bout of mastitis, she visited her breast specialist and scans revealed the cancer.

“(The specialist) called me in straight away,” she said.

“I had no other reason to suspect anything.

“In some ways I’m lucky that the situation is the way it is because I’m under the care of a specialist and she’s able to make sure that I get all the appropriate tests.”

She said more than 1400 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in South Australia each year, and regular screening can help detect the condition at a point when it is easier to treat.

“Early detection provides the best chance of living beyond cancer, so I want to remind women to have a regular breast screen, and if they notice any breast changes to see their GP as soon as possible,” she said.

She has seen the benefit of early detection first-hand through the experience of her mother, who had precancerous cells picked up through a routine mammogram with BreastScreen SA.

“Her friend kept pestering mum to go, and if her friend hadn’t pestered mum to go it might have been a lot more advanced and she might not be alive today,” she said.

“So early detection is absolutely critical.”

Ms Lensink, who has an eight-year-old son, also urged the public – particularly those aged over 50 – to monitor their health and follow their advice of their doctor.

“Go to the doctor every year and get your blood tested and just do all the things they say you need to do because it saves lives,” she said.

Ms Lensink, who was first elected to the upper house in 2003, is currently serving as opposition spokeswoman for women, planning, social and community housing, and housing affordability and urban development.

She said she will undergo surgery but is not planning on taking leave at this stage.

“While focusing on my health and treatment is my first priority, I will continue my work in the shadow ministry and I’m not anticipating that I will need to take leave immediately,” she said.

“I intend on living until 110 so this is not on my to-do list but I will fight it and take the advice of my doctor.”