Why Without Technology, I Would Be Facing a Death Sentence
It started with a thought. A small, nagging thought I couldn’t shake.
With a family history of breast cancer, I decided to ask my GP about my own risk.
That decision set off a chain of events that I never expected—but one that may just save my life.
Because I followed my curiosity, my GP advise me to I book into an appointment with a breast specialist (as a regular GP can’t refer you to a genetic counsellor) to discuss my risk.
Based on a completing an online survey and a conversation with the breast specialist, my risk was only slightly higher than the average woman my age. Great, I thought—despite both my mum and my aunty passing away from breast cancer.
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” she said. “But just to be certain, let’s do some breast checks.”
Meeting ‘Henry’
And that’s how I ended up getting my very first mammogram. If you’ve never had one, imagine what it might be like to hug a robot—one that gets a bit handsy. I jokingly named the machine ‘Henry’ because of a sticker on it labeled ‘Hologic.’ Henry gave my boobs a firm, awkward squeeze while a technician stood by, watching and taking photos. Awkard much?
After my first round of images, I was sent for an ultrasound—nothing new to me. But then, back to Henry again for a second round of imaging. I assumed they were just double-checking something routine, maybe the fibroadenomas I already knew I had.
Then came the moment I never saw coming.
The Words That Changed Everything
The doctor walked into the ultrasound room and said they found something suspicious. A biopsy was needed. Not only that, but they would also insert a tiny coil to track this ‘lump’ more closely.
I broke into tears.
I’m 43.
I thought this was something I might have to deal with when I was older.
Not now.
Not yet.
I have things to do.
I have a business to grow.
I have places to travel to.
But cancer doesn’t wait for the ‘right time.’
The sonographer who assisted during the biopsy held my hand—a small gesture that meant everything. In that moment, I didn’t even realise I needed the comfort of human touch, but I did.
Afterward, I was ushered back to the doctor’s office, staring at images of my own breasts, discussing what made this lump look ‘suspicious’—the shape, the calcifications, the way it appeared on the scan. I was handed a brochure about the different types of breast cancer.
“We need to book you in with a surgeon,” the doctor said.
“But first, we wait for the confirmation of the biopsy results.”
And so, the waiting began.
Then Came the Call
A few days later, my phone rang.
The biopsy confirmed what I had feared. It’s cancer.
I don’t have all the details yet, and there’s a journey ahead of me.
But here’s what I do know:
If I hadn’t listened to that nagging thought in the back of my mind, I wouldn’t have gone to the doctor.
If I hadn’t seen a specialist who cared enough to say, let’s check, just in case, I wouldn’t have met Henry.
Without technology—mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and labs—I wouldn’t have had early detection.
Without compassionate doctors, sonographers, and specialists, I would have faced this journey alone.
Technology and human care combined have given me something invaluable—time.
Time to take action. Time to fight. Time to hope.
Your Life Matters. Please Take Action.
We live in an era where technology is advancing rapidly. AI is now being used in breast screenings, making early detection even better. But none of this technology matters if we don’t use it.
And here’s something to think about—what if the technology that helps save lives in the future is something you help create?
We use technology every day in business, work, and even hobbies. The way we embrace and innovate with technology today might be what leads to the next medical breakthrough, the next life-saving tool, or the next early detection system. Someone, somewhere, designed Henry. Someone, somewhere, is currently working on an AI tool that might one day catch cancer even earlier or cure it.
And someone, somewhere—maybe even you— because you embraced technology today you could be working on something right now that changes the course of someone’s life tomorrow.
So, if you’ve been putting off your health checks, please—make that appointment. Hug your own ‘Henry’ (or whatever your local mammogram machine is called). Get the scans. Do the blood tests. Have the conversations.
Because the life you save might be your own.
P.S. If you don’t know where to start, just book an appointment with your GP. They can guide you.
P.P.S. At this stage, I have a journey ahead. But I’m grateful I even have the chance to take it.
P.P.P.S. Moving forward, I will be shifting the way I work and how I work—to help more people embrace technology in their businesses so they can create a better future. Whether it’s building a tool that makes life easier, developing a system that improves efficiency, or even creating something that saves lives, we all have the power to shape the future for everyone through technology.
