'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'

By Maddison Leach|

Robyn Bell, 59, felt lucky when her doctor told her she had "young" breasts for her age, but she later discovered that it was the reason her breast cancer was left undetected.

Like many Australian women Robyn was unaware she had high breast density, meaning her breasts were made up of more glandular and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue. In fact she had no idea what breast density even was.

When doctor said her breasts being "young," what he meant was that they were dense - but that was never explained to Robyn, nor were the associated risks.

'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'
Robyn Bell, 59, was shocked to learn her "young" breasts had been disguising her cancer. (Supplied)

"He never said to me 'that means you've got dense breasts and mammograms won't pick [cancers] up' or 'you're at a higher risk of breast cancer,'" Robyn told 9Honey.

"You get told you're lucky [to have 'young' breasts] and you think 'there's nothing lucky about this.'"

With a family history of cancer, Robyn had always been proactive about getting mammograms, and was shocked when a biopsy revealed there were tumours growing in her breasts and under her arms. Her dense breasts had been disguising the cancer, but Robyn only discovered what breast density was when she flipped through a brochure on it while waiting to undergo her biopsy.

Pink Hope founder Krystal Barter explains that because Robyn's breasts were highly dense traditional 2D mammograms wouldn't have been effective in identifying her cancer.

'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'
Pink Hope founder Krystal Barter warns breast density is a major cancer risk factor. (Pink Hope)

"There's something called the masking effect [meaning] when you go for a standard 2D mammogram there's a potential for a cancer to be missed," Krystal told 9Honey.

She explained that during a mammogram fatty breast tissue will show up black, while dense breast tissue shows up white - the same colour as cancerous tumors. This makes it harder to detect tumours in high density breasts, as they can blend in with normal breast tissue in a 2D mammogram.

"Science says it puts you at four to five times increased risk of breast cancer if you've got dense breasts," she added.

Such was the case for Robyn, whose cancer had to be identified with an ultrasound. She insists ultrasounds should be included as part of regular breast screening procedures in both the private and public health sectors. Krystal agrees, adding that women need to be given all the information about their breast cancer risks, and that includes information about their breast density.

'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'
Dense breasts show up as white on mammograms, and can hide cancerous tumours. (Getty)

Currently Western Australia is the only state where health professionals are required to inform women of their breast density and associated risks, and Krystal says the rest of Australia needs to catch up.

"It's important for every Australian woman to know her risk," she said.

"We should know equal to what our doctors know about us, we should know about our own health."

New FDA regulations in the US would require healthcare providers by law to give information to women about their breast density following mammograms, regulations Krystal says Australia should mirror. Had such laws already been in place, Robyn's high density breasts and the cancer they were hiding may have been diagnosed sooner.

'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'
Robyn undergoing chemotherapy while wearing an ice pack on her head to help reduce hair loss. (Supplied)

Robyn has since stopped seeing her original doctor, and while she's hating the "poisonous" effects of chemotherapy, she says her prognosis is good.

Now her goal is to spread awareness of what breast density is and the major risks it can pose to women, especially when they are unaware of their own breast density.

Like Krystal, Robyn wants the rest of Australia to adopt the same practices as WA and start informing women of their breast density and associated risks at every breast screening.

"We can do better. We have to do better," Robyn said. "People are dying every day from cancer."

'My “young” breasts disguised my cancer'
Robyn now wants to campaign for better information about breast density. (Supplied)

With an average of one seven women diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, Robyn insists that understanding their breast density and how it impacts their risk of cancer could save women's lives.

"I've taken one for the team, I've been that one in seven," she said.

"But it could be your mother, your sister, your grandmother, the woman next door, the lady you buy fruit and veggies from. You will know one of the one in seven."
