National Breast Cancer Awareness Month runs from 1 October to 31 October.
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is using the opportunity to encourage women in the age group of 50 – 74 to have a screening mammogram.
“BreastScreen Victoria statistics show that over 1,500 women in Victoria might have breast cancer, but don’t know it because they haven’t had a breast screen.”
Mr Walsh said that 62.2% of the eligible female population in the Murray Plains electorate underwent screening between July 2016 and June 2018.
“The figure is above the state average of 54%, but it is paramount that more women take up the opportunity to have a free breast screen.”
He said seventy-five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50 and the vast majority of them have no family history of the disease.
“Regular screening mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, before any symptoms are noticed, and when treatment is likely to be most successful.”
The BreastScreen Mobile Screening Unit travels across regional Victoria and will be in Kerang from 27 Jan to 13 March 2020 and Swan Hill from 6 April to 26 June 2020.
No doctor’s referral is needed and appointments can be made by contacting 132050.
Fixed screening services are also located at Bendigo, Echuca, Shepparton and Mildura.
