Thoai Anh’s story: how a simple screening saved her life
By
Cancer Council NSW
Thoai Anh Tran is a member of the Vietnamese community in Sydney. She is sharing her experience with breast cancer to show how important it is to get screened every two years through BreastScreen.
Thoai Anh had no symptoms, so she had no suspicions that she might have cancer.
“It felt strange because I’d done self-checks and never noticed any lumps or pain,” she says. “If I had ignored the screening, things could have been much worse.”
Because her cancer was caught early, Thoai Anh had more treatment options and a better chance of recovery. She’s now happily back into her usual routine, spending time with family and being active in her local Marrickville community.
Thoai Anh’s positive experience with treatment
Thoai Anh’s diagnosis led to a carefully planned treatment path. After a biopsy confirmed the presence of a 2cm tumour, she underwent surgery targeting two sites on her breast.
Her family played a big role in her support. Her son came to every appointment to assist her since English is not her first language.
Thoai Anh felt grateful during her treatment since her doctors and medical team were very supportive and explained everything step by step.
Thoai Anh also learnt that her cancer had a low risk of recurrence – as low as 7%.
“I’m relieved I’ve completed all my treatments,” Thoai Anh says.
The power of early detection
Breast cancer affects 1 in 7 women in NSW, but when detected early, the survival rate can be significantly higher.
BreastScreen NSW provides free screening mammograms every two years to detect breast cancers in women aged 50-74 who have no symptoms. Women aged 40-49 are also eligible for free breast screening but are not routinely invited. Getting screened every two years is both easy and vital.
“Early detection is so important. Most of all, I am glad I took that first step because finding out early has given me the best chance to recover and live well,” Thoai Anh shares.
Spreading awareness in her community
Determined to make a difference, Thoai Anh is now sharing her story with her community through the Marrickville Vietnamese Women’s Support Group to help others, coordinated by Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre.
She wants other Vietnamese women and their families to talk about cancer openly as, in Vietnamese culture, health issues can often be a taboo topic.
Thoai Anh wants others in the Vietnamese community to understand that Australia’s healthcare system is there to support them.
By raising awareness, Thoai Anh wants to help more people feel confident navigating the system and taking that first step toward protecting their health.
“Talking about cancer screening can feel difficult, but awareness can save lives. If my story inspires even one woman to book a breast screen, I’ll be grateful.” Thoai Anh says.
About Breast Cancer Screening
- Early detection can mean treatment of breast cancer is simpler, survival rates are better, and women can get back to their normal lives more quickly.
- BreastScreen NSW provides free screening mammograms every two years to detect breast cancers in women aged 50-74 who have no symptoms. Research tells us screening is of most benefit for women in this 50-74 age group. Women who are aged 40-49 are also welcome to participate in this program.
- In 2024-2025, only 51% of eligible women aged 50-74 participated in BreastScreen in NSW.
Learn more about breast screening here.
If you, or anyone you know has any questions about cancer and our cancer support services, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or visit cancercouncil.com.au/get-support. You can also find information for carers here and supporting someone with cancer.
*Vietnamese translation