NSW mum says catching COVID-19 'absolutely' saved her life after it revealed a shock breast cancer diagnosis

This Central Coast teacher says catching COVID-19 "absolutely" saved her life.

Jacqui Matthew, 49, has a lot of reasons to she is thankful to be alive — recovering from the deadly virus is just one of them.

The mum-of-two contracted the coronavirus in early March 2020, before the hysteria of the pandemic had reached Australian shores.

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Speaking to 9Honey, Jacqui says she was bedridden with the virus and spent nearly a month trying to shake it off.

"My son heard a rumour someone in his university was COVID-positive after we spent some time with him, so the next day my husband, daughter and I got tested just to be safe," Jacqui remembers.

"After a second test, I came back positive, and I just got so ill. I couldn't breathe… so I had like nine days of hard lockdown.

"Everything was a real struggle. So I went back to my doctor, and he said, 'Look, just get some scans, maybe you've got some scarring on your lungs'."

Jacqui was still having trouble breathing when she had a lung scan to check for permanent damage.

When she eventually received results of the scan, the bubbly math teacher was floored. It revealed Jacqui was suffering from an aggressive form of breast cancer.

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"The doctor has told me there wasn't anything wrong with my lungs, but there was something suspicious there, so he wanted a closer look," Jacqui says.

"After I had the mammogram biopsy and it was confirmed to be cancer, it was all systems go. They already had a team put together and a treatment plan ready before I even knew I had it."

Jacqui's breast cancer was luckily caught early at stage one, so doctors booked her in for an operation for a few days later and scheduled rounds of chemotherapy.

While recovering from the shock diagnosis, Jacqui realised something else. Catching COVID-19 had been a blessing in disguise, as it was the only reason doctors was able to detect her cancer.

"My oncologist told me, if I hadn't got COVID, it would have been a very different conversation a year or two later," Jacqui recalls.

"It's a pretty scary thought to think if I hadn't caught COVID, they wouldn't have seen the cancer for another few years."

"It absolutely saved my life," she adds. "I know it."

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Just shy of 50, having mammograms wasn't on Jacqui's radar quite yet.

A busy mum and teacher, she said having the regular check-ups "didn't cross my mind" — and is haunted by the thought of her cancer lying dormant until it was too late.

"I had never thought about it… it didn't cross my mind at all. It's not a history in my family and wasn't something that I would have looked out for," she says.

Only two days after her diagnosis, Jacqui spent her birthday on the operating table.

She also required a second operation to remove more of the cancer, followed by four gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

Luckily, Jacqui had her husband, daughter, son and friends rally around her when her the punishing treatment wreaked havoc on her body.

Now in remission, she is looking back on a tough 12 months with a mixture of relief and pride.

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"I am so grateful for the early detection," she says. "I cannot stress enough that people need to get tested."

"I've had people tell me I'm brave or strong. But I'm not brave… I'm just talking and trying to make a difference for the next person. I don't mind sharing my story – it's not a secret and I'm not ashamed."

The cancer survivor is urging women young and old to get tested for the deadly disease. It could be the difference between life and death.

"Get tested. Early and often… Don't wait for symptoms," Jacqui urges. "You've got nothing to lose, except maybe a half hour out of your day."

Contact your state or territory BreastScreen Australia service to book an appointment, update your contact details or to find out more information about screening for breast cancer on 13 20 50.

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