That was before she met Rosemary Hannan and Alison Szwajcer, two breast care nurses at St George Hospital.

Rosemary and Alison have helped Mrs Saeed, 40, of Carlton, through her breast cancer treatment, which has included chemotherapy, lumpectomies and radiation therapy.

Mrs Saeed, a mother of three, is now on the road to recovery and feels much differently about her cancer than she did when she was diagnosed in August.

Her mother died of breast cancer in 1977 but her own diagnosis came as a shock.

``The breast care nurses have made a huge difference to my life,'' Mrs Saeed said.

``If it wasn't for them I would have a different perspective and attitude towards the cancer.''

The role of a breast care nurse is to provide information and support to women newly diagnosed with cancer. They help guide patients through treatment and put them in touch with a range of other services, such as financial and psychology services.

Initially funded at the hospital by the McGrath Foundation, the nurses are now paid for by the hospital's cancer institute and in part, St George Private Hospital.

``I had a fear of dying, that was very real for me,'' Mrs Saeed said.

``I want to thank Rosemary for sitting through all my chemotherapy and making sure I turned up.

``I also wanted to thank Alison for calling me the day before treatment to make sure I was going to show, because otherwise, I would have given up.''

Ms Szwajcer said it was vital for women to know their breasts to detect any changes. She urged women aged 50-69 to take advantage of free breast screening.

Details: BreastScreen NSW, www.bsnsw.org.au or 132050.