Two in five local women overdue for breast cancer screening

NEARLY 45 per cent (44.7) of women in the Northern NSW Local Health District are overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screening.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 1–31), women aged 50–74 from the region are urged to book their free mammogram.

BreastScreen NSW also encourages women to ‘Be A Friend, Tell A Friend’, share the importance of having a regular mammogram, and encourage word of mouth and social media promotion to friends, family and colleagues.

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, said if detected in its earliest stages, a woman’s five-year breast cancer survival rate is 98 per cent.

“More than 6500 women in NSW are expected to receive a breast cancer diagnosis this year, and 1000 women are expected to lose their lives, so we need to do everything we can to support women and encourage them to book a life-saving breast screen,” Professor O’Brien said.

“Early detection not only significantly increases a person’s chance of survival, it can also greatly reduce the need for invasive treatment like a mastectomy.

“I know how hard it can be to block out time for yourself. Unfortunately, breast cancer doesn’t wait, so I encourage all eligible women to stop and put themselves first – for themselves and their family.”

The most significant breast cancer risks are related to age and being female, more so than a family history. Women aged 50–74 years are recommended to have a breast screen every two years, and for Aboriginal women to start screening at 40 years.

Acting director of BreastScreen NSW North Coast Screening Assessment Service Patrick Magee said that around 300 local women were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

“A breast screen every two years is still the best way to detect breast cancer early – before it can be seen or felt,” Mr Magee said.

“If you’re aged 50–74, make breast screening a priority. It only takes 20 minutes, and no doctor’s referral is needed.”

For information and to make an appointment at a local clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or go to breastscreen.nsw.gov.au