I was 41 when doctors told me I had two years to live. I'm still here

Danica Bunch will never forget the day doctors told her she had two years to live.

Just days before Christmas in 2022, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She felt perfectly fine.

Weeks earlier, the fit and healthy mum-of-two from Orange, New South Wales, had noticed an 'indentation' on her right breast and knew she had to get it checked right away.

'It was almost like my clothes had been a little too tight. It was so minor but was there from the morning into the evening so I thought, "Oh, hang on, this doesn't seem right",' the former ballerina turned PR specialist told FEMAIL.

'I couldn't feel a lump but I immediately wanted to get checked.' 

A doctor referred her to get a mammogram which 'didn't show much' so she asked to have an ultrasound which found a small lump hidden in her breast. 

Then her worst fears came true - a biopsy confirmed it was cancer. 

A diagnosis wasn't immediate and it took several stressful weeks for doctors to give her any clear answers or treatment program.

'The surgeon told me it had spread but she didn't elaborate and referred me down to the oncology team,' Danica recalled. 

'It was there where we were greeted by the nurse who was very upset for me. She gave me the diagnosis and told me I had less than two years to live. [She said] it was untreatable. I was devastated but it just didn't make sense.' 

In that moment she instantly thought of her two children, now 12 and 15, and couldn't bear the thought of not being around to see them grow up. 

'It was complete and utter disbelief. It was like the rug had been pulled from under me,' Danica, now 43, said.

'I thought, "How am I going to do life? How am I going to support my kids?" My life had all of a sudden been taken away from me.'

The diagnosis came as a complete shock as she experienced no other symptoms. 

During Covid, Danica's mum had also been diagnosed with breast cancer which made her extra vigilant and eager to get checked after turning 40. 

But because she had no symptoms healthcare workers were prioritising other patients and she couldn't get checked.

Since then she's had genetic testing which confirmed there's 'no link' between her mum's cancer and her own. The cause is unknown. 

'With mum and I, it's like lightening striking our family twice,' Danica said. 

Rather than relying on the in-demand doctors in her regional hometown, Danica decided to contact a Sydney treatment clinic.

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It was weeks of back and forth to have a biopsy followed by an MRI then more discussion about the results until she received the diagnosis and devastating prognosis. 

Then things took a turn. 

During the holiday rush, doctors had mixed up her results with another patient. 

While she did indeed have metastatic breast cancer, it was in fact treatable and her prognosis of two years was incorrect. 

She had a chance of fighting it, and winning. 

'It was a rush of relief, but we still knew it was metastatic. So the concern that was running through my head was, how am I going to get a doctor or an oncologist that is going to help me live?' Danica said. 

Danica was determined to take control of her illness and find a doctor who would treat her as a person, not just a number. 

'I met this amazing oncologist and one of the first things she wanted to know was who I am as a person - my job, how many kids I've got, and what I love doing in my spare time. She said, "I just want to know the life you want to live, because I want to keep you alive and I want to keep you well",' Danica recalled. 

'Every woman deserves that attitude and that treatment, because women are just so essential to life.' 

To cope with the chaos, Danica also sought help through a psychologist and had support from close friends and family. 

She also journalled regularly and utilised the Cancer Council support line.

One of the most challenging aspects was telling her kids she had cancer.

'I told them points of the story in age-appropriate ways as it was unravelling. It was important to give them the information. I think too often we underestimate how much kids can see what's going on,' she said. 

Danica explained factually how cancer is treated, that there's many different types, and that it could happen to anyone. 

'We've prioritised one-on-one and group adventures together - whether it's beach walks, park visits, we even went on our first roller coaster together, she said. 

Danica was able to avoid surgery and instead was treated with immunotherapy from January 2023, which she takes in the form of daily tablets. 

The treatment has been effective in shrinking and eliminating her metastatic breast cancer without the need for surgery. 

'I will remain on the treatment for a very long time. As long as it's working, I'll be taking it,' she said. 

Danica hopes sharing her experience will prompt other women to get checked and to self-examine regularly. 

She also urges women to always seek a second opinion. 

'If you need support, reach out for it,' she said.

'If someone is going through cancer I would encourage them to strongly reach out to the Cancer Council because they really did help me so much,' she said.