Jessie Herbert battles rare cancer linked to breast implants | Dungog Chronicle

dungogchronicle.com.au · Mar 1, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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A breast implant that caused a tumour in Jessie Herbert's breast left her in pain for months while facing major surgery.Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingAll articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperAll other in your areaMs Herbert, 39, will have surgery in three weeks at Gosford Private Hospital.Her doctor diagnosed her with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma."It's been a bit of a whirlwind and surreal. I'm a bit disassociated from it all," Ms Herbert, of Cooranbong, said."It's been a bit scary. I was referred to an oncologist."When her tumour was first detected five months ago, it was measured at 3 centimetres.It is now 6 centimetres.Ms Herbert had the breast implants done in Sydney in 2014. They were her third set.Her first set - which she had at age 21 - was replaced after being recalled over safety concerns.During surgery, Ms Herbert will have the implants in both breasts removed, along with surrounding tissue and the tumour."My surgeon may even go as far as shaving my rib cage," Ms Herbert said.She will also have a reconstruction of both breasts.As she doesn't have private health insurance, she is facing a bill of more than $20,000."I don't want disfigurement, so the doctor will liposuck fat from my stomach to try to rebuild my breasts," Ms Herbert said."I'm a former personal trainer, so the last thing I'm willing to sacrifice is my body image. It's something that I pride myself on."This has affected my mindset about how I look as a woman."She and partner Kirtis MacDonald have four children, including three-year-old twins."They want to be picked up and comforted. I can't do that," Ms Herbert said.She has been in constant pain for months."I've been on Endone most days," she said.Mr MacDonald said, "I try to do everything I can to help, but it is hard"."I get heat packs for her, give her a massage, or we watch a movie or go for a drive to take her mind off it," he said."She's an active person. She takes the kids on adventures all the time, but hasn't been able to do any of that for the last couple of months."Mr MacDonald said his partner was "awesome"."She's the best mum who will do anything for anyone else. She's the most caring person. She's a point of call for others when things go wrong."Ms Herbert was initially taken by ambulance to Wyong Hospital last September after feeling faint.She had been experiencing periodic burning sensations in her breast and upper arm.She would have faced a wait of at least 12 months in the public system, but was able to get a referral to a private specialist.She had a biopsy on Friday ahead of surgery in March.The disease is mostly found in the scar tissue and fluid near the implant, but in some cases it can spread further.It is treated successfully with surgery in most patients, but some require chemotherapy and radiation.Ms Herbert hopes surgery will be enough for her.She aims to be greatly improved by her 40th birthday in October.The Therapeutic Goods Administration cancelled several breast implant products in 2020 over their links to the cancer in question.More from News