Midland-based breast cancer campaign launched in time for Mother's Day

30/4/02
Mother's Day is the perfect time to remind women aged between 50 and 69 to screen for breast cancer, Health Minister Bob Kucera said today.
Launching a new Breastscreen WA campaign at the Midland Council Club, Mr Kucera said children should actively encourage their mothers to take preventative steps against breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women - affecting approximately one in 11.
If left untreated, or detected too late, most malignant breast tumours are fatal.
"The timing of this campaign is perfect because most of us are thinking about our mums and what they mean to us at this time of year," Mr Kucera said.
"This new campaign initially targets women living in the Midland region and will consist of advertising displays in public restrooms and in selected local areas such as cinemas, shopping centres and bowling clubs.
"The advertisements are mainly aimed at women in the target age group who are from 'hard-to-reach' groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds."
The $20,000 campaign runs in Midland for eight weeks and will be rolled out to the Perth city and Mirrabooka regions over the next six months.
Mr Kucera said the fact that Western Australia had been hailed as a leader in breast cancer detection should not lull women into a false sense of security.
"Our programs have placed WA in the enviable position of leading the country in the early detection of breast cancer and having the lowest death rate from this disease in Australia," he said.
"However, they can only be successful if women aged 50 to 69 years heed the warnings to have regular screening mammograms, which are available free to women in the target age group at BreastScreen WA clinics and via its mobile vans."
For more information about BreastScreen WA locations, phone 13 20 50.
Minister's office: 9213 7000