This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women aged 50-74 are being urged to book in a free mammogram, with almost 50 (48.2) per cent of women in NSW now overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screen.
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, said with more than 6,500 women in NSW expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 1,000 women expected to lose their lives to the disease in 2024, 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 and if caught in these early stages, the five-year survival rate is 98 per cent,” 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 put themselves first – for themselves and their family. 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.
Sue Advani, who is President of SEVA International, an organisation dedicated to supporting the Australian South Asian community in Sydney, and who has recovered from breast cancer said it’s important women look out for other women in their community.
“I encourage women to remind their friends, family and colleagues about the importance of regular mammograms – checking in with friends and family that they’ve made an appointment may save a life,” Ms Advani said.
Multicultural communities face significant barriers accessing cancer screening services and care, often due to language barriers, low health literacy, trauma, and cultural stigma and beliefs.
To further help boost breast cancer screening rates in NSW, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and other at-risk populations in NSW, a new and improved BreastScreen NSW website is now live. It includes pages tailored to women from diverse communities and translated resources in 26 languages.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with age and being female the biggest risk factors – not family history.
Women aged 50 – 74 years are recommended to have a breast screen every two years.
Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their doctor without delay.
BreastScreen NSW is a free health service for women from diverse cultures and language groups. Interpreters are available to help with bookings. Simply call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50 and ask for BreastScreen NSW.
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.
For more information about the ‘Be A Friend Tell A Friend’ promotion visit Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BreastScreen NSW)