Danica Bunch advocates for positive language after breast cancer diagnosis

A woman in her 40s from the Central West is advocating for better and updated language to be used when talking about breast cancer. Read the reforms she wants to make below.

Danica Bunch has told of her experience after being diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40s.

When her mother was diagnosed with early breast cancer two years ago, Danica Bunch’s first instinct was to get a screening as she just turned 40.

Ms Bunch, a resident of Orange, was told that she was “too young” by health professionals, and she was “not high risk”.

Fast forward to late November, 2022, Ms Bunch noticed her right breast looked “different” when she looked in the mirror.

After visiting a general practitioner and getting advice to receive a mammogram, BreastScreen told her that, because she was under 50, there was no need to get tested as Ms Bunch or her doctor could not feel anything.

“In Orange, I had to go through a private mammogram which didn’t really show anything, so I insisted for an ultrasound - the ultrasound actually showed a lump,” Ms Bunch said.

Once tested, Ms Bunch was told the lump was cancerous, but was assured treatment was not essential until the end of January.

“I followed my gut instinct and went to Sydney to see a surgeon,” she said.

After following the process of visiting the surgeon and breast cancer nurse at a cancer centre, Ms Bunch grew distrust towards the medical profession.

“The breast cancer nurse burst into tears and told me my life was ending very soon and that my kids were going to be supported,” she said.

A few days later after receiving a diagnosis, Ms Bunch visited a clinical psychologist.

“A clinical psychologist explained to me that breast cancer is a treatable cancer, unlike a lot of other cancers,” she said.

“Stage four breast cancer isn’t like stage four lung cancer.

“There are more than 15 lines of treatment to breast cancer and that is why we need to think of it as a life-threatening chronic illness.

“This messaging has come days after the frontline workers could’ve put it in real context for me and could’ve made a massive difference to how I was coping with the diagnosis and my mental health.

“It really struck a cord with me about how many other women are treated like that and told pieces of information that can be potentially disruptive to their mental health.”

Orange resident Danica Bunch has called for more positive language after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

In her experience with breast cancer, Ms Bunch confirmed she had found no nurses or doctors that had been “positive”, and believed the McGrath Foundation was outdated in providing mental health support for patients.

Ms Bunch added her experience with breast cancer shifted her perspective on breast cancer charities and the public relations (PR) around them.

“We’ve got messaging and narratives in the industry that need to be refined to what is available today,” she said.

“Some of the data around survival is 10 to 15 years old, and when they tell you that in the first few minutes of the diagnosis - the integrity of the data isn’t strong.

“The medication that I am on has only existed for three years.”

Ms Bunch believes the health care system needs to be further educated on how they communicate messaging across to their patients.

“It is such a vital part of their job and what they are doing,” she said.

Ms Bunch spent $8,000 in December for treatment and additional Sydney expenses, including her surgeon appointments and clinical psychologist appointment as she got privately tested because of her age.

“Nearly every woman I’ve spoken to finds it difficult to get tested when they are around my age or younger,” she said.