🎀 Awareness, Early Action and Support

Breast cancer awareness is about more than wearing pink. It is about knowing your body, recognising changes, seeking medical advice and ensuring that nobody faces cancer alone.

In this special episode of Building Stronger Communities, host Michelle Hillier was joined by Councillor Julie Griffiths AM, Maria from Heavenly Curves and youth contributor Piper Johnson to explore breast cancer awareness across generations.

🎧 Listen to the Program

🌸 Awareness at Every Age

Breast cancer is much more common as people grow older, but younger people can also be affected. Cancer Australia estimated that 1,035 women aged between 20 and 39 would be diagnosed with breast cancer during 2025.

Michelle shared her own experience of discovering a breast lump when she was 16. She told her mother, visited her GP and had the lump surgically removed. Thankfully, it was benign, but the uncertainty and fear surrounding the experience stayed with her.

Her message to young people was simple: most breast changes in younger people will not be cancer, but unusual or persistent changes should never be ignored.

Piper offered a young person’s perspective on whether teenagers receive enough reliable, age-appropriate information about breast health. Their conversation highlighted the importance of giving young people the confidence to speak with a parent, trusted adult or doctor when something does not feel right.

According to Cancer Australia, breast cancer remains uncommon in younger women, but age should never be used to dismiss someone’s concerns.

👀 Know What Is Normal for You

Breast awareness is not about becoming frightened or constantly looking for something wrong. It means becoming familiar with the usual appearance and feel of your breasts and noticing if something changes.

Changes that should be discussed with a doctor can include:

• 🔍 A new lump or swelling in the breast or underarm
• 🔄 A change in the size or shape of a breast
• 🩺 Dimpling, redness, irritation or another skin change
• ⚠️ A nipple that changes shape or turns inward
• 💧 Unusual nipple discharge
• ⏳ Breast pain that is persistent or unusual

BreastScreen NSW recommends seeing your doctor as soon as possible if you notice an unusual breast change.

For women aged 50 to 74, a free breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, often before a change can be seen or felt.

🤝 Support Through the Patient Journey

Maria from Heavenly Curves returned for the second hour to discuss breast awareness and the concerns that can sometimes prevent people from seeking medical advice or attending recommended screening.

Earlier in the program, Maria explained the specialised support available to women before and after breast cancer surgery. This can include professional fittings for post-surgical and compression bras, lymphoedema garments and external breast prostheses.

Her contribution reminded listeners that cancer care extends beyond medical treatment. Dignity, comfort, confidence and access to practical support are all important parts of a person’s recovery.

The episode also recognised that breast cancer can affect women and men, as well as partners, children, friends, carers and entire families.

💗 Turning Awareness Into Community Action

Councillor Julie Griffiths AM shared the community spirit behind Pink Up Blacktown and the importance of bringing local people, organisations and businesses together to increase awareness and support the work of the McGrath Foundation.

McGrath Cancer Care Nurses help individuals and their families affected by cancer by providing invaluable clinical, psychosocial, and emotional support from the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment.

Piper also highlighted Penrith Relay for Life, where community members come together to celebrate cancer survivors and carers, remember loved ones and raise funds for Cancer Council research, prevention and support services.

These community events show that awareness becomes most powerful when it leads to action.

Brain Energy with Luke Evans

📵 Switch Off and Connect

For this week’s Switch Off and Connect, listeners were encouraged to get out into community enjoy the weather and participate in one of the meany festivals happening in their local area.

☎️ Information and Support

If you notice an unusual breast change or have concerns about your health, make an appointment with your GP.

For cancer information and support, contact:

• 📞 Cancer Council on 13 11 20
• 🎀 Breast Cancer Network Australia on 1800 500 258

Nobody should have their concerns dismissed because of their age or gender, and nobody should have to face a difficult time alone.

📻 Building Stronger Communities airs Saturdays from 8:00am to 10:00am on SWR 99.9 FM — where everyone has a place and every story matters.