Breast Checks: Breast Cancer Support and After Care
Welcome to the
Women’s Wellness Hub
Topics on this Page:
Why check my own breasts?
How often should I do a breast check myself?
Is it ok just to get Dr to do a breast check?
Where go to do them in Australia?
What if I am rural?
What to expect when go to get check?
This web page is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health practitioner.
All about Breast Checks
Why check my own breasts?
Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Knowing the look and feel of your own
breasts through regular self-checks helps you to detect any changes. Not all
changes will be cancerous but be vigilant and see your GP for advice if you are
concerned.
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How often should I do a breast check myself?
Monthly is good but sometimes it can be as simple as seeing something on the tele
that reminds you or hearing a conversation and you realise you haven’t checked
your breasts for a while. Maybe a friend has just been diagnosed. Use reminders on
your phone if you would like.
Is it ok just to get Dr to do a breast check?
The best way to early detection is really to know the look and feel of your own
breasts. Your Dr may never offer a breast check so really it is up to the individual to
know what is normal for them.
Where go to do them in Australia?
You can ask a GP for a breast examination
What if I am rural?
Your GP, the visiting women's health nurse.
What to expect when go to get check?
You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up, including your bra. In a
sitting position you will raise your arms above your head and then possibly be asked
to place your hands on your hips. The GP will be looking for anything that looks
unusual in the shape, size, colour of the breast or nipple.
The GP may then ask you to place your hand on their shoulder and they might feel
under your arm on both sides. This is when they are feeling for your lymph nodes.
You may then be asked to lie down and they may place some gentle pressure on the
breast and feel the tissue.
Some clinicians will feel this in a clockwise pattern and others will sweep the breast.
This may also be done when you are sitting up. Each person that examines a breast
has their own way of examining but this should be done in a private area where the
patient feels comfortable.
You will be asked questions about your breasts at this time as the Drs or nurses are
not familiar with the look and feel of your breasts and may ask if certain features are
"normal" for you. For example, some women have nipple retraction and have had it
all their lives. If this is normal for them a clinician would not be concerned about this,
however if this is a change to one nipple over the past month this would warrant
further investigation.
What if I find a lump?
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Should I keep notes or photos of changes?
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When Should I askfor a mammogram?
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When do I need to have a mammogram?
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Will is the procedure going into have a mammogram?
-appointment with nurse
- led into the room for check
- machine involved
- imagery
- how quickly get an answer
- what if asked back?
- what is a biopsy and why?
- what will happen after biopsy
- what happens if they detect cancer
-how do I get a gene checkto see if I have the breastcancer gene? etc
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Could your previous spending be added back in the asset split?
Dividing assets – could your historical or current spend be added back?
When couples separate, dividing assets can be complex, especially when one party has used, disposed of, or hidden assets before a settlement being reached.
The legal concept of "add-backs" allows courts to account for those assets by "adding back" funds into the asset pool. The recent case of Boulton & Boulton and amendments to the Family Law Act, commencing June 2025, highlight the need to be aware of the changes for anyone currently involved in property settlements.
The current three main categories of add-backs are:
Where there has been a premature distribution of assets, and property that has been disposed of or used for the benefit of one party.
Property not disclosed or accounted for, including conduct designed to intentionally, recklessly, or negligently reduce the value of an asset; and
Money spent on legal fees.
In the recent case of Boulton & Boulton, the complexities of add-backs were highlighted. It showed that the parties may need to present evidence of spend, including historical spend, when seeking to add money back into the asset pool, or when opposing an add-back. The judge in that case noted that extensive use of add-backs can significantly affect the distribution of property and that the Family Law Act allows the court to take into account any fact or circumstance to ensure justice prevails.
Boulton Case facts
Over $3 million of add-backs proposed by the wife were disputed by the husband. The court eventually added back $1,256,400 to the asset pool, which included the following transactions:
$60,200 paid by the husband to his brother's company for what the court deemed to be an illegitimate invoice;
$596,000 from the sale of a property in 2017; and
$600,000 withdrawn by the husband from a joint account.
The judge in Boulton accepted some of the wife's proposed add-backs, including a significant add-back of $600,000, which the wife claimed the husband had withdrawn from a joint account in 2010, 11 years before they separated.
The husband claimed it was unfair and onerous for the Court to expect him to undertake a tracing exercise that far back. However, the Court held the husband did not provide a satisfactory explanation for the dissipation of $600,000, causing the judge to infer the husband had retained the benefit of the funds.
Legal Fee spend
We also note that in the case of Trevi & Trevi the court held that when legal fees are paid from property that would otherwise be included in the asset pool, those amounts are almost always added back.
June 2025 Amendments to the Family Law Act
The legislative amendments to the Family Law Act, coming into effect on 10 June 2025, may change the way the court addresses add-backs. Stay tuned and get advice on this more complex topic. Our panel of lawyers can assist you.
All information in this blog is of a general nature only and is not intended to be relied upon as, nor to be a substitute for, specific legal professional advice. No responsibility for the loss occasioned to any person acting on or refraining from action as a result of any material published can be accepted
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