As breast cancer continues to cause pain and heartache to many families, the month of October is being used to raise awareness of the disease.
The Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, educate about its symptoms and prevention, and fund research into causes, treatment and cure.
This year’s focus is on metastatic breast cancer, where the cancer has spread beyond the initial tumour site of the breast and into other parts of the body.
McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Consultant Melanie Bullock said diagnosis rates continue to rise, but so has the survival rate.
Ms Bullock is based at Northern Hospital Epping and says it’s all about early detection.
Australia has one of the best breast cancer survival rates in the world, with 87.4 per cent of people diagnosed surviving at least 10 years.
Breast cancer nurse consultant Cheryl Murray said their team has grown to match the needs in the community.
“As patients live longer, the duration of the specialised care they require to navigate their path to recovery naturally increases too,” she said. “Northern Health now has three breast care nurses, allowing for a
wider support service, including metastatic patients.”
BreastScreen Victoria provides free mammograms to women and trans and gender diverse people, between the ages of 50 and 74, with no signs or symptoms of breast cancer, every two years.
Women and trans and gender-diverse people aged 40 to 49 and over 75 are also eligible to receive a mammogram with BreastScreen Victoria every two years, however, it is encouraged to speak to a
doctor to see if breast screening is the right option for you.
Details: breastscreen.org.au or call 13 20 50.
