Nothing about Bianca Innes’ situation is normal, not for someone her age. Over the past six months she’s undergone 12 rounds of chemotherapy, had 10 hospital admissions, two surgeries, and currently battles near-constant fatigue and bone pain. All because of a disease that typically affects women four decades older: breast cancer.
Diagnosed in April 2017 at the age of 20, the aspiring journalist is likely to be one of the youngest Australians (if not the youngest) fighting the disease.
Like many, Bianca’s story began with a lump. She spotted on her right breast while towelling herself after a shower. She ignored it at first, but within weeks it had tripled in size.
“After many tests I was diagnosed with Grade 3 Stage 2b Triple Positive breast cancer,” she told Mamamia.
There was no known family history, and testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 ‘breast cancer gene’ came back negative.
“My diagnosis came as a huge shock to not only me, but my family and friends too,” she said.
“The first question I asked was, ‘Will I lose my hair?’ At that time, it was the most important thought in my mind.”