Doctors say Chinese Australians should get checked for breast cancer earlier. Here's why they don't

When Melbourne resident Xie Min was diagnosed with breast cancer in her forties, she felt stunned.

She was surprised to have developed cancer at what she thought was a relatively young age.

"My heart sank," she said.

"How should I proceed with treatment? What would the outcome be? My mind was in turmoil."

After an unsuccessful lumpectomy, Ms Xie had a full mastectomy.

"Because it [the cancer] was early stage, I didn't need radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and I recovered very well after the operation," she said.

Nearly two decades later, Ms Xie urged younger women — particularly those from Chinese backgrounds — to take part in breast screening.

" [It means] early detection and treatment if there's an issue," she said. "If all is clear, you gain peace of mind with nothing lost. "

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