'A nurse told me I had two years to live. Then I found out the truth.'

Mother of two, Danica Bunch was "living her best life and feeling invincible", when a glance in the mirror turned her life upside down.

The former ballerina and spin class enthusiast felt happy and healthy when she noticed an indentation on her right breast.

"It was a whisper from my body that something wasn't right, and it propelled me to see my doctor," says Danica.

Watch: A woman battles breast cancer while pregnant. Article continues below.

Danica booked a mammogram, which didn't reveal anything significant. But something felt wrong, so she insisted on an ultrasound.

That scan revealed a lurking shadow, a lump that a biopsy would confirm as cancerous.

"The journey from suspicion to reality was fraught with tension," says Danica.

A difficult process.

"It was not the easiest process to get a test. At the time, much of the campaigns for breast screening were really honed at over 50s and only younger by exception."

The diagnosis process was a marathon of stress and confusion, says Danica, due to what she describes as "a clunky diagnosis system".

Over the next three weeks, Danica went back and forth between her home in regional NSW and Sydney, enduring another mammogram, ultrasound, a biopsy, an MRI and a second biopsy.

"Every step was clouded by a lack of clarity and poor communication, a real crisis of care by the hospital," she notes.

The diagnosis.

Two days before Christmas, a nurse tearfully informed Danica that she had metastatic breast cancer.

It was untreatable, the nurse said, and Danica was told she had just two years left to live.

"The initial prognosis was like a sledgehammer to my soul, leaving me to grapple with a reality that was not even mine," says Danica. "The emotional turmoil was immense, compounded by the festive season's supposed cheer."

Over the holiday period, panic and fear dominated Danica's thoughts. "How would I break this to my children and parents? How could I carry this burden through Christmas? The weight of an uncertain future was almost unbearable."

Danica says sharing the news with her family felt like spreading a shadow over her loved ones during a time meant for joy.

"But their immediate rally to my side was a testament to the power of my incredible support network," she says.

"Particularly, the women in my life—my incredible circle of female friends—stood as pillars of strength and sanctuary.

"Each one, from best friends to close family, wove a net of support that caught me in my free fall. Their immediate and unwavering presence was a profound testament to the power of sisterhood and the enduring strength of my incredible support network."

Discovering the truth.

Several weeks after being told her untreatable cancer would kill her within two years, Danica received some shocking news.

The nurse had made an error, she was told. Danica's cancer, while metastatic, was in fact, treatable.

"Unlike the initial bleak prognosis, it was framed as treatable with targeted therapies, allowing for a quality of life I hadn't dared hope for under the circumstances.

"My relief was tinged with frustration and anger at the ordeal they had put me through."

Following the misdiagnosis, the treatment plan was eventually righted with targeted immunotherapy, framed by a supportive oncologist who championed living well with cancer.

"Alongside this, I had the support of an incredible integrated GP who prioritised my overall wellness."

Together, Danica and her team incorporated a comprehensive approach to health that included diet modifications, regular exercise, acupuncture, sauna sessions, and oxygen therapy.

"More recently, the addition of a menopause doctor to my care team has further enhanced my ability to manage my health proactively. This combined 'team' approach has empowered me to continue living the best life possible, embracing wellness and vitality despite my diagnosis.

Danica says the shift from a terminal outlook to a treatable plan felt like regaining control.

"My treatment was recalibrated to leverage the latest in immunotherapy, accompanied by comprehensive support. It was a cocktail of relief and renewed determination. I was still on a rough path, but now it had a direction I could face with hope."

Amidst the chaos of the initial mismanagement, the Cancer Council became Danica's beacon.

"They really helped me with the practicalities and helped me reframe what was happening to get through Christmas. They just got it.

"I needed someone to help carry the emotional weight, to guide me on discussing cancer with my children, and to navigate the stormy seas of healthcare during the holidays.

"The support I received helped me recalibrate my mindset, transform my approach to cancer, and maintain my role as a mother, entrepreneur, and advocate through it all."

A new hope.

"This journey through misdiagnosis and recovery reinforced my belief in advocating fiercely for oneself and the transformative power of accurate information and genuine support," says Danica.

For now, Danica is living well. While cancer is part of her life, she says, it doesn't define it.

"My treatment is effective, with no side effects, allowing me a life rich with family joy, professional success, and personal passions. I now have no signs of metastatic disease."

Danica has written a book about her experience titled, She has breast cancer. Her story is remarkable.

If you need to talk about cancer, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20.

Feature Image: Instagram/@danicabpr.