Free breast cancer screening in Tin Can Bay

Tin Can Bay women are being urged to take advantage of free breast cancer screening at Queensland Health’s mobile service which will be located at Cathy House, Coral Trout Drive, Tin Can Bay from 27 May – 19 June 2014.

Breast Cancer is a serious illness that affects about 1 in 8 Queensland women by the age of 85.

BreastScreen Queensland Health Promotion Officer Kelly Hart said regular two yearly breast cancer screening is still the best way to find breast cancer early – well before a women or her doctor can feel anything.

“It is important to remember that 9 out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and therefore it is vital that all women heed messages about the importance of having a regular breast screen,” said Ms Hart.

All women aged 40 years and over are eligible for a free breastscreen every two years at a BreastScreen Queensland Service. Women aged 50-69 years are particularly encouraged to attend.

“BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast Service screened over three hundred and thirty local women when the mobile service visited Tin Can Bay in 2012.”

“This means that many of those women may now be due for their two-yearly breast cancer screen.”

Ms Hart said while appointments were necessary, a doctor’s referral was not.

BreastScreen Queensland Services are the only nationally-accredited breast cancer screening services in Queensland.

Appointments are starting to fill so phone 13 20 50 to make an appointment or for further information.

Media opportunity: Media are invited to attend and photograph / film a radiographer operating equipment at the Tin Can Bay Mobile Service. Please
contact Kelly Hart or Debra Zammit on 5470 5041to arrange a mutually agreeable time.

Media contact: Jude Rhodes, 5489 8617 or 0408 713 747

FAST FACTS:

• 75 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50. Younger women do get breast cancer, but the risk of breast cancer increases
  dramatically after the age of 50.
• 9 out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer have NO family history of the disease. While women with a family history of breast cancer are more at risk, most women diagnosed have no family history of the disease at all.
• A breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, well before you or your doctor can feel anything.
• Women aged 40 years and over are eligible for a free breastscreen every two years at a BreastScreen Queensland Service. Women aged 50-69 years are particularly encouraged to attend.