Associate Professor Nirmala Pathmanathan, Director of BreastScreen NSW, western Sydney, said with 926 local women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, now was 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,” Nirmala said.
Launched last month, a new BreastScreen NSW campaign “Breast Cancer Doesn’t Wait” encourages women to put themselves first. It was developed after research found many women were not having regular breast screens because they were too busy.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with one in seven women set to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Professor Tracey O’Brien, 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 was 98 per cent, dropping to 43.9 per cent if detected later, when it had spread to other organs.
“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,” Prof O’Brien said.
“As a working mum and professional, 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.”
For more information or to make an appointment, call 13 20 50 or book at breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.
Breast screen every two years best weapon to defeat cancer
WOMEN aged 50-74 are being urged to book in a free mammogram, with 57.9 per cent of women in Western Sydney overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screening.
