It was in 2021. I went to the doctor because I had a lump up on my shoulder, which turned out to be nothing. He glanced at my records and he said, “I see you haven’t had a mammogram for three years, since you turned 70.” 

He said, “I’ll give you a breast exam, which he did, then said, “you should go and have a mammogram because you’ll think I’ve missed something.” 

He couldn’t see anything so I duly I went and had the mammogram. I got a call back and breast cancer was picked up. Not because of the lump that they saw, they picked it up because there was a very small cluster of sparkles which told them something was shedding cancer cells, and there was a comet’s tail which told them the direction it was going in.  

I had all my tests privately, then I went to Waikato Hospital where I had a full mastectomy of my left breast. They found that there were actually three small tumours there, one a little bit bigger than the other two.  

When they did the pathology test, they had got absolutely everything they would need to get, so I didn’t have to have any follow-up treatment of chemo or radiation. 

It was an oestrogen-fed breast cancer, so I’m on letrozole that I take daily to suppress any oestrogen in the body. 

My doctor, when he said to me to have the mammogram, I lived in Te Aroha at that time. To have a mammogram, you did it on the bus, which I had already done and always done. But once you’re 70 or over, you have to go to a private provider unless you have symptoms of some kind. 

Because I had no symptoms or anything like that, my doctor said to me, “well it’s no good me referring you to the breast cancer unit at Waikato Hospital because you’ll be right at the bottom of the list.” 

I paid and went over to Hamilton Radiology. I then paid again for the ultrasound, when they called me back. I then paid again for the biopsy. The whole lot cost me just over $800. 

So, for women having mammograms over the age of 70, there are two issues. The issue of cost and the issue of accessibility. 

I’m fine now, I take my pill every day. 

I have transferred now down to Masterton Hospital and Hutt Hospital, and I’ve had my mammogram here and had my check-ups. I’m on the system down here now and I’m good as gold. Just a little less of me. 

I’m a member of the New Zealand RSA Women’s Sections. When I was living in the Waikato, we were having our annual conference and it was decided we would send a remit to the National Party to send letters in support of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ in their fight to raise the screening age to 74, because it affected a lot of us. 

A lot of us were in that age group. Those who were over that age group wanted it for their daughters.  

When the Government said that they were going to extend our screening age to 74, I thought at last somebody is listening to us, and at last they realise how important those free mammograms are. 

Between Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and other groups around like us Women’s Sections of New Zealand, we have achieved it.  

Just because you’re 70, the world doesn’t stop. They seem to have this notion that once you reach 70, you’re on the use-by date. 

Well, women today are not on that use-by date. Women today are very, very active. It’s important for them to be able to lead their lives, as they should be able to, and access the mammogram and the treatment they need. 

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ are in an ideal situation to promote all of this. They are a very, very well-known organisation within New Zealand and very much out in the public arena. 

I’ve listened in on a few of the discussions they’ve had with Parliament and with various other places. They have the connections that are important to be able to advocate throughout New Zealand. 

I would just say to people, please, in whatever way you can, give to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, this is the future of our women in New Zealand.