newy.com.au – BreastScreen NSW says 39.1 per cent of eligible women in the Hunter New England Local Health District are overdue for their two yearly breast screen, prompting a call to book free mammograms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Women aged 50 to 74 are recommended to have a breast screen every two years to help detect cancer before it can be seen or felt. BreastScreen NSW recommends Aboriginal women start screening at 40.
Rebecca Delaporte, acting manager of BreastScreen NSW in Hunter New England, urged women to make screening part of their regular health routine.
“If you’re aged 50 to 74, make your breast screen a priority. It’s a simple appointment that only takes 20 minutes, and you don’t need a doctor’s referral,” Ms Delaporte said.
“Finding breast cancer early can give people more treatment options and improve their chances of survival.”
Almost 390,000 women were screened through BreastScreen NSW in the past year, which the service said was its highest number on record.
But a recent survey of more than 25,000 BreastScreen NSW clients highlighted everyday barriers to attending. More than 40 per cent said they had put off their mammogram because they were too busy, while another 17 per cent said they had delayed because they forgot.
The service’s October Be a friend. Tell a friend promotion encourages women to talk about breast screening and remind others to book an appointment.
Women who notice a change in their breasts, such as a lump, are advised to see their doctor without delay.
The Newcastle screening clinic is on the ground floor of the NBN Telethon Mater Institute at 82-96 Platt Street, Waratah, on the corner of Edith and Platt streets.
For more information or to make an appointment at a local clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online through BreastScreen NSW.
