Soon to finish chemotherapy following a single mastectomy for aggressive early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, Mrs Townsend (36) is now urging vigilance against the disease she says does not discriminate.
''Breast cancer is not an illness that affects [only] middle-aged and elderly women as some might think. It is affecting women in their early 40s, 30s, and even 20s.''
The Dunedin mother-of-two has formed friendships with three other women receiving treatment for breast cancer in the city, all mothers aged under 43.
She believed none had a significant family history of breast cancer.
Mrs Townsend, a teacher, breast-fed her children, a protective factor against breast cancer.
The self-described ''hypochondriac'' visited the doctor soon after feeling a lump and experiencing pain. She did not consider breast cancer to be a serious risk at her stage of life. Expecting to be told she had a cyst, she spent a weekend devastated by the shock diagnosis late last year before deciding to make the best of the situation.
Women with breast cancer often experienced no pain, so its presence was not particularly significant, she said. Being vigilant about all and any possible signs to enable early detection was crucial.
''It's paramount women know their bodies. Any changes in their breasts: Bumps, lumps, dents and pain are all signs something could be wrong.''
If it meant avoiding an extended wait, a private mammogram was worth the cost to gain access to oncology services, she said.
''I was lucky to be in Dunedin. The breast cancer team are amazing, from the surgeons, nurses, oncology staff and administration.''
Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and alcohol had been shown to play a role in developing breast cancer, and Mrs Townsend would like to see more research on the role of stress. Describing herself as prone to stress and highly focused on her work, since her diagnosis she had a greater sense of proportion about life.
Publicity over actress Angelina Jolie's decision to have a preventive double mastectomy was positive in focusing attention on the disease.
She had strong support from husband Bevan, and mother Elaine Schuck, who lives in Alexandra.
Mrs Townsend is baking for Pink Ribbon Breakfast fundraising events next week at Otago Boys' High School and Bayfield High School. Events were likely at other schools too. Mrs Schuck said cafes in Alexandra were also joining in the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser.
Breast cancer
• One in nine women in New Zealand will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
• About 2800 women diagnosed every year.
• More than 600 women die from it each year.75% of cases are in women aged 50 and over.
• Women aged 45-69 are eligible for the funded screening programme.
• Nearly 85% of women survive more than five years after their initial diagnosis.
Source: New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
