Celesté’s story: how MAS’s screening programme enabled life-saving early action
By MAS Team
When MAS launched its Preventative Health Programme in 2023, Celesté Houwniet, MAS’s Organisational Development Lead, was 43 – married to Andrew, a busy mum of two teenagers and a keen runner – and well below the publicly funded screening age of 45. With no family history of breast cancer and no symptoms, she decided to take up the offer of a mammogram simply because her employer, MAS, made it easy and accessible. 
“The process couldn’t have been simpler,” says Celesté. “Because the cost was covered, I just called my local breast screening clinic, made a booking, and MAS reimbursed it in full.”
Her first mammogram in December 2023 came back clear. Everything looked fine.
Then, in July 2024, Celesté noticed some changes to her left breast, including discharge. At first, she thought it might be due to running or clothing irritation. But, with increased awareness following her earlier screening, she decided to see her GP.
Her GP acted quickly, referring her to a specialist. Given her recent mammogram, another wasn’t required – instead, an ultrasound was carried out. When that proved inconclusive, an MRI was recommended.
The MRI revealed something unexpected. The symptoms in her left breast were caused by a benign papilloma – but the scan also picked up a small, undetectable tumour in her right breast. It was diagnosed as triple-positive breast cancer, an aggressive type that tends to grow quickly but responds well to treatment if caught early.
“If MAS hadn’t offered this programme, I wouldn’t have had that first mammogram. I might have ignored the early signs or delayed getting checked. Early diagnosis doesn’t just save lives – it means less invasive treatment and a much greater chance of recovery.”
“Despite being small, the tumour had already started to migrate,” Celesté explains. “But thanks to the early detection, it hadn’t reached my lymph nodes. That meant I could undergo less invasive treatment – a lumpectomy, followed by chemotherapy and targeted therapies – instead of more intensive options.”
Celesté now wants to share her story to raise awareness of the MAS Preventative Health Programme and encourage others to use it.
“If MAS hadn’t offered this programme, I wouldn’t have had that first mammogram. I might have ignored the early signs or delayed getting checked. Early diagnosis doesn’t just save lives – it means less invasive treatment and a much greater chance of recovery.”
Through the MAS Preventative Health Programme, eligible members receive an email each year inviting them to book a mammogram. Once they accept, they simply contact their local breast screening clinic to make an appointment – no GP visit required. MAS then reimburses the cost directly up to the value of $300.
Celesté’s experience is a powerful example of how awareness created through early screening can lead to life-saving decisions. When symptoms appeared months after her first mammogram, it was that initial experience – made easy and accessible by MAS – that prompted her to act quickly.
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