Nor did she expect a routine mammogram to show any signs of a small lump of cancer cells.

With a family history of cancer, Stephanie was vigilant about testing since the age of 40. In January this year, she slotted in her routine mammogram at the BreastScreen Tasmania bus in between sight-seeing with her father.

"On the first day when the kids were back at school I got a call from BreastScreen... to say 'we've noticed some irregularity, there's a difference in the tissue that we can see here. We want you to come down to Hobart.'"

In February, a biopsy confirmed the change was breast cancer and on March 21 she had a five-hour surgery to remove the tissue.

She resigned from her position on the Ten Days on the Island board and has reduced her workload to focus on her treatment and recovery.

Her children and husband, Braddon Liberal MHA Roger Jaensch, took some time to process the shocking news.

"The shock is very hard to describe and I look back now, that was in February and March, it feels like a lifetime ago."

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women. One in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with the disease before the age of 85.

McGrath breast care nurse Tracey Beattie helps women across the North-West and West Coasts navigate the health system during their cancer treatment.

She sees an average of 100 women per year. This year she has already spoken with 60 women.

"The important thing is a lot of this is curable and with early detection through screening and being breast aware... it does allow women to get the opportunity of finding a very small cancer that they would not be able to detect themselves."

The highest percentage of women are detected aged between 50 and 74. However, Tracey said it was important for people outside this age bracket to be breast-aware and continue the screening.

"It's a quick assessment. It's not painful but it can be a bit uncomfortable and awkward."

The good news is the cure rate is high. Tracey said 90 percent of people will be doing well five years after diagnosis.

Stephanie is equally optimistic about her recovery.

"I've got three teenage kids. They hear the word cancer and they assume all cancer is cancer. It's not.

"At least with breast cancer there is a whole heap more treatments available, lots of options. That was I suppose some comfort."

With two out of six chemotherapy sessions finished, the family enjoy crossing off the days on the calendar.

While she was initially "terrified" of the treatment, the side effects have been manageable.

"At the beginning of the year I had hair down to my shoulder blades. And it was gradually getting shorter and shorter and finding clumps of hair and finding 'guinea pigs' in the shower when you wash it.

"And now Roger's happy because he has longer hair than me."

The women in her life have stopped putting off their mammograms.

"Early detection is the biggest tool we have."