Breastscreen SA bookings now conveniently online

South Australian women can now book a free breast screen easier than ever before with online bookings now available through the BreastScreen SA website.

Online bookings can be made at all 11 BreastScreen SA clinics, including the eight fixed screening clinics and three mobile screening units.

It means women can now book their appointment quickly, conveniently and at any time of the day, instead of being limited to calling during business hours and sometimes requiring a call back. South Australian Minister for Health Chris Picton said online bookings will make it easy and convenient for women in South Australia to book a free breast screen that could save their life.

“A breast screen can take as little as 15 minutes, and it could save your life because the earlier a cancer is discovered, the greater the chance it can be treated successfully.,” he said.

“We hope it will help to further empower women to take an active role in protecting their own breast health by allowing them to schedule this important health check at a time that suits them.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in South Australian women, with more than 1,400 women diagnosed every year.

It’s one of the most common causes of cancer deaths in women and increases in frequency with age, with 1 in 10 South Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75.

BreastScreen SA provides free breast cancer screening to more than 90,000 South Australian women every year.

In as little as five minutes, women can now book an appointment online from their preferred device, whether it be their computer or even their mobile phone while on the go.

BreastScreen SA Program Director Niamh Wade said this platform has been two years in the making and is the largest step in increasing access to the program since the mobile screening units hit the road in 1991.

“It is an exciting improvement that our clients have been asking for, and one that will transform the way they can book in with us for their breast screen,” she said.

It follows the rollout last month of more detailed breast screening reporting at all 11 BreastScreen SA clinics, to now include specific information about an individual’s breast density.

About half of women are regarded as having dense breast tissue which has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Screening mammography is the most effective method for the early detection of breast cancer, with research showing women who have regular screens reduce their chance of dying from breast cancer by up to 41 per cent.

BreastScreen SA provides free breast screens (breast X-rays) every two years to women over 40, primarily aged 50 to 74 years, with the aim of diagnosing breast cancer at an early stage, before it can be felt.

To make a free appointment, go to www.breastscreen. sa.gov.au and click the ‘Book Now’ button or call BreastScreen SA on 13 20 50.

Most women will be able to book an appointment online, but if you prefer to speak with someone – make the call.