Woman waits seven months for breast cancer diagnosis as screening tools miss
Canberra woman's breast cancer went undetected for seven months because ultrasound and mammogram could not see through her dense tissue.
Alisha Henderson found a lump and sought help, but her initial ultrasound and mammogram found nothing. Six months later, a second ultrasound still showed nothing.
At the seven-month mark, an MRI finally detected Stage 2B breast cancer. She was 36.
Henderson underwent chemotherapy, targeted therapy and a double mastectomy. She is now cancer-free and volunteers for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Henderson's advice to women: know your own body and push back if something feels wrong. Canberra's breast screening rate for women aged 50 to 74 sits at only 56 per cent in 2025-26, below the 60 per cent target.
Breast cancer still kills about nine Australians every day.
- 36
- Patient age at diagnosis
- 7 months
- Time to diagnosis
- Stage 2B
- Cancer stage
- 56 per cent
- Canberra screening rate 2025-26
Why it mattersBreast cancer caught early is more treatable. When standard screening misses it, women end up with more aggressive cancers requiring harsher treatment.
AustraliaACT women aged 50 to 74 are not screening at target rates. Those with dense breast tissue may need additional imaging like MRI. Low participation rates mean more cancers are detected late.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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