Free mammograms for Rockingham women aged 50 and over

28/4/03
Health Minister Bob Kucera today urged all Rockingham women aged 50 and over to book a free screening mammogram with BreastScreen WA, due to visit Rockingham on May 5.
Mr Kucera said free breast cancer screening services were available to all Australian women over the age of 40, although the target group was aged 50 - 69.
"In the Rockingham shire, there are close to 7,000 women in the target age group and more than half of those have received free breast screens in the past," he said.
"Of those women who were screened between December 1999 and December 2001, 27 breast cancers were detected in the 50 - 69 year age group.
"Breast cancer was detected in a further six women in the 70 - 79 year age group and in two women in the 40 - 49 year age group.
"I strongly urge all women aged 50 - 69 to have a free screening mammogram when the Breastscreen van visits - early detection of cancer significantly increases chances of survival."
Mr Kucera said all women over the age of 50 should be screened for breast cancer every two years, and yearly if they are at a significantly higher risk.
"Every year, about 10,000 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,000 die of the disease," he said.
"Although one in 11 Australian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, there has been a steady reduction in breast cancer mortality.
"With the implementation of a National Breast Cancer Screening Program over the past decade, there are now many thousands of women who are breast cancer survivors."
Mr Kucera said the State Government was committed to prevention and early detection of the disease.
For more information, or to make an appointment for a free screening mammogram, phone 13 20 50.
Minister's office: 9213 7000