Forty Per Cent Of Women From Western Nsw Overdue For Breast Screening

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women aged 50-74 from Western NSW Lo­cal Health District are being urged to book in a free mammogram, with more than 40 (41.4) per cent of women in the region overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screening.

Corey Hemopo, Director of BreastScreen NSW, Greater Western Screening Assess­ment Service, said with more than 30 lo­cal women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, now is the time to book in a free, life-saving breast screen.

“For women aged 50-74, a breast screen every two years is still the best way to de­tect breast cancer early – before it can be seen or felt,” Mr Hemopo said.

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

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BreastScreen NSW is also encouraging women to Be A Friend, Tell A Friend about the importance of having regular mam­mograms. Be A Friend, Tell A Friend en­courages word of mouth and social media promotion among women to their friends, family and colleagues about the need to have regular mammograms.

Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer In­stitute NSW, said if detected in its earliest stages, a woman’s five-year breast cancer survival rate is 98 per cent. This drops to 43.9 per cent if detected later, when it has spread to other organs.

“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,”Professor O’Brien said.

For more information and to make an ap­pointment at a local BreastScreen NSW clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.