Magalie Lameloise did not know anything about breast cancer before she was diagnosed.
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“It makes me feel sad because I remember receiving an email from an ex-colleague and being told that she had breast cancer, but I had no idea what having the disease meant,” she said.
At the age of 33-years-old Ms Lameloise discovered a lump by chance.
“I was breastfeeding my son and as I was putting my bra back on, I felt the lump on my breast,” she said.
Ms Lameloise, wishes that she had been better educated before she was diagnosed about the risk factors and what to be aware of.
The McGrath Breast Health Index was released on September 27 and reveals that only 15 per cent of women in Australia have adequate breast health understanding on factors including awareness, confidence in recognising changes in the breast, knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer, and behaviour in terms of frequency of checking.
The research also revealed only one in 10 successfully identified the risk factors for breast cancer as being a woman, growing older, having a family history of breast cancer, being a smoker, drinking alcohol, starting menstruation earlier or menopause later.
Ms Lameloise said this statistic is alarming, as being able to catch breast cancer in its early stage is very important.
At the age of 33-years-old she was feeling fit and healthy, and her friends told her not to be concerned because she was ‘too young’ to be diagnosed.
Ms Lameloise believes that there needs to be more education for women who don’t yet have cancer, as there are a lot of misconceptions about the disease.
“I am proof that women at any age, no matter how young can be diagnosed,” she said.
“I think there is a misconception that only older women need to be aware of breast cancer.”
She praises research which has been conducted in recent years, which may shock women into educating themselves about the disease.
It is also important, Ms Lameloise said for parents to openly talk to their children about breast cancer, so that they will pass on the information to the next generation.
She counts herself as lucky, as by discovering the lump on her breast early she stopped it spreading to the rest of her body. Five years later she is now cancer free.
Ms Lameloise is a member of Port Macquarie Pink Girls which is a group for young women living with and beyond breast cancer and other cancers in the community.
For more information email magsblog@yahoo.com or visit www.magsblog.com