‘When I tell people this, it scares them’: Breast cancer survivor urges women to get checked

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Mandy Payne’s first mammogram saved her life.

Just before Easter 2023, the Murray Bridge woman went to get a routine breast scan, the sort of standard check recommended for all women over the age of 40.

She didn’t hear anything for a few weeks, and didn’t think anything of it.

Then came the phone call.

Could she come in for a biopsy?

Another 48 hours after that came another, more urgent call: could she come into the Breast Screen SA office in Adelaide, and bring a support person?

At the age of 44, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It was a big shock,” Ms Payne said.

“As a single parent to my daughter, I thought ‘I can’t die’.”

Scariest of all, she had experienced no symptoms whatsoever: no lumps, changes, redness or pain.

The cancer had begun to form in her milk ducts, and would only have become noticeable much later, when it might have spread or become more difficult to treat.

“When I tell people this, it scares them,” Ms Payne said.

“I had literally no symptoms.

“So it’s good for women to get on top of it, because … if you get it early, you’ve got a pretty good prognosis.”

• Book a breast scan: Visit www.breastscreen.sa.gov.au or call 13 20 50; the nearest clinic is at Mount Barker, but a mobile clinic will visit Murray Bridge in the first half of 2026.

Recovery has been a journey for the whole family

As Ms Payne battled through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, her teenage daughter struggled through some serious mental health challenges brought on by her mum’s diagnosis.

At times, even while lying in a hospital bed, she had to fight to get her daughter the help she needed.

She was even reported to the Department for Child Protection for failing to show up to an appointment.

Thankfully, her daughter’s wellbeing has since improved.

Ultimately, Ms Payne’s treatment worked, too – the cancer went into remission after about 12 months.

But her health did not magically return to normal.

Her particular cancer was hormone positive – it thrived on oestrogen – so as well as having one breast surgically removed, she has had to continue taking hormone blockers.

In turn, the drugs brought on early menopause and have also gifted her with joint and eye problems, which in turn have needed more treatment.

It has still been better than the alternative, but Ms Payne’s warning to other women was: get that scan as early as you can.

Buy a pink bun and make a difference

While Ms Payne would not wish her experience on anyone, she has since drawn strength from the opportunities she has had to make an impact by sharing her story.

Her presentations at conferences, on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, have left audiences in tears.

She has also become an active member of a local cancer support group.

But this Saturday will be something special: she will spend two hours volunteering at Bakers Delight in Murray Bridge as part of a fundraising event for the Breast Cancer Network Australia.

One hundred per cent of the proceeds from sales of pink buns at Bakers Delight, and any donations by customers, will go to the BCNA and its efforts to support women experiencing breast cancer.

• Get involved: Visit Mandy Payne at Bakers Delight in Murray Bridge between 11am and 1pm this Saturday, May 17; buy a pink fun bun during May; or donate to the Breast Cancer Network Australia at www.bcna.org.au.
• Book a breast screening: Visit www.breastscreen.sa.gov.au; the nearest clinic is at Mount Barker, but a mobile clinic will visit Murray Bridge in the first half of 2026.
• More information, get help: Visit www.bcna.org.au or www.bakersdelight.com.au, or follow either organisation on social media; or talk to your GP.