Lizmari Bester, a 63-year-old radiographer and mammographer, firmly believes that regular mammograms saved her life.  She made it a point of having a mammogram every two years starting at age 50 and annually from age 60.

‘Working in the radiology field definitely influenced my decision to have regular screenings,’ Lizmari shares. ‘A mammogram can detect a lesion before you or your healthcare provider can feel or see anything. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the outcome will be.’

Lizmari began her Diploma in Radiography at Tygerberg Hospital in 1979, graduating in 1982 and completed her Diploma in Mammography in 2009. After taking a break to raise her children, she returned to work at SCP Radiology in Swellendam.

The mammogram that led to early detection

In 2022, a routine annual mammogram revealed a ‘suspicious’ lesion. ‘I had no symptoms and hadn’t felt anything, even though I regularly performed self-examinations. Without my regular screenings, I wouldn’t have known that I had developed breast cancer,’ she says.

‘Some women avoid mammograms because they fear the pain but, in my experience, it’s only slightly uncomfortable. More like short-lived, manageable pain than anything unbearable,’ Lizmari explains.

During a mammogram, the breasts are compressed between two plates. ‘As a mammographer, I communicate with my patients throughout the process, constantly checking their comfort levels before applying more compression. This compression is necessary to spread out the breast tissue and minimise image enlargement, which enhances the quality and detail of the mammogram.’

After her mammogram, Lizmari underwent an ultrasound and tomosynthesis. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of breast tissue, to see a mass or cyst. Tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, is a newer digital X-ray technique that produces both 2D and 3D images of the breasts. ‘These two tests confirmed signs of malignancy in the lesion,’ Lizmari says. ‘Fortunately, it was small, measuring 6.3×5.4×4.7 mm.’

She was then referred to a surgeon, who arranged a needle biopsy with a radiologist. ‘Even if there are suspicions of malignancy from imaging studies, the only definitive diagnosis comes from a tissue diagnosis histology by a pathologist. The biopsy confirmed an invasive carcinoma that was oestrogen-positive, meaning the cancer grows in response to oestrogen. Lizmari had to immediately stop hormone replacement therapy.

.

.

Lizmari’s treatment journey

In late 2022, she underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancer and some surrounding tissue, ensuring clean, negative margins. ‘This means the pathologist could find no cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, indicating that all the cancer had been removed. I also had one axillary lymph node (sentinel) removed to check if the cancer had spread. But thankfully, the lymph node was normal.’

She was referred to an oncologist who recommended radiation therapy on her left breast, which began in February 2023. ‘I know everyone reacts differently but I felt fit and well during all my radiation sessions and fortunately did not suffer from exhaustion, as some patients do. The sessions were very short—about four minutes each.’

After completing her radiation therapy, Lizmari was cleared to return to work. Now, she only needs to see her oncologist once a year for a check-up and to have an annual mammogram.

‘I hope my story encourages others to get regular mammograms. It might be slightly uncomfortable for some but the benefits far outweigh any temporary discomfort. Early detection can save your life. That’s why routine mammograms are so important. If the lesion is small, there’s a greater chance the surgeon can remove it entirely, and there’s less risk it has spread to the lymph nodes.”’

A word of encouragement to fellow women

Lizmari also urges women to perform regular self-examinations. ‘If you feel a lump or notice any changes, such as inverted nipples, discharge or skin changes, see your doctor immediately.’

She also highlights that from the age of 40, you don’t need a referral for a mammogram and many medical aids cover the cost. ‘Some medical aids only pay for one mammogram every two years, so it’s best to check your plan’s policy.’

Reflecting on her journey, Lizmari notes, ‘The irony is that even though I perform many mammograms at the practice, I never thought I’d be diagnosed with breast cancer. But because I knew the importance of early detection and routine mammograms, I was diagnosed early, and my prognosis is very good. Hopefully100%.’

She hopes her story inspires women to schedule their routine mammograms and not wait until symptoms or a lump appear. ‘Do it for yourself and your loved ones.’

• This article is intended to create awareness and none of the information it contains should replace the need for seeking personal advice from a qualified medical practitioner.

• Apart from selected screening examinations, all radiology procedures are performed upon referral from a qualified medical professional.