New breast cancer screening clinic opens in Maryborough
Women in the Central Goldfields and surrounds now have better access to lifesaving breast cancer screening with the opening of a permanent clinic in Maryborough.
BreastScreen Victoria and Maryborough District Health Service (MDHS) today announced the opening of the new BreastScreen clinic at Maryborough Hospital.
According to BreastScreen Victoria CEO Rita Butera, the new clinic will enable women aged 50 to 74 to get easy access to a breast screen (mammogram) which is recommended every 2 years.
“We’re delighted to partner with Maryborough District Health Service to open Maryborough BreastScreen to enable the early detection of breast cancer and ultimately save lives,” said Ms Butera.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. We know that finding breast cancer and starting treatment early, before any symptoms are noticed, gives women better treatment outcomes and survival rates.”
A breast screen is the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is too small to see or feel.
“A new permanent clinic in the heart of town allows women in the Central Goldfields region to get access to breast screens at a time convenient to them all year round.”
“Women no longer need to wait two years for the mobile screening service to return to town, or travel to regional centres such as Ballarat or Bendigo to get a breast screen.”
MDHS CEO Nickola Allan said the new clinic, expected to complete around 1,000 breast screens a year, is part of a long term plan to expand women’s health services.
“Our vision is to change the healthcare story by improving health and social outcomes, in partnership with our community,” Nickola Allan, CEO, MDHS.
“When it comes to cancer one of the best ways we can do this is by increasing breast cancer screening participation rates,” said Mrs Allan.
“The participation rate for women in the Central Goldfields for women aged 50-74 years is around 49 percent [49.1%], which is lower than state average.
“Our goal is to increase participation rates to at least 55 percent in the next few years, consistent with the Victorian state-wide target,” she said.
“We’re working with service partners like BreastScreen Victoria to provide better access to culturally safe, inclusive and accessible screening services,” said Ms Allan.
“And this breast screen clinic was made possible thanks to the collective fundraising efforts of our community.
“The people of Maryborough and donors helped raise nearly $250,000 to purchase the state-of-art mammography unit to make the new clinic a reality,” she said.
“We’re forever grateful to Maryborough resident Nick Weaver who spearheaded the campaign,” said Mrs Allan.
Nick initially set out to raise $100,000 for the MDHS Oncology Unit to provide local cancer and support services in honor of his father who died from cancer.
“It’s been incredibly moving to see the people of Maryborough come together over a series of fundraising events with a united goal to support the health of the community.
“This collective effort has helped us attract donations and put strategies in place to meet this real need and reduce the impact of cancer in the region,” she said.
Maryborough BreastScreen clinic is located at 75-87 Clarendon Street, Maryborough, within the medical imaging department at Maryborough Hospital.
It has a designated waiting area, and is run by caring and qualified woman radiographers.
BreastScreen Victoria provides free 10 minute breast screens to women and trans and gender diverse people aged 50 to 74 with no breast symptoms, every 2 years.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit breastscreen.org.au or call 13 20 50.
About BreastScreen Victoria
BreastScreen Victoria reduces the impact of breast cancer and saves lives through early detection. Age is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer with 75% of breast cancers occurring in women over 50. If you are aged between 50 to 74, you should breast screen every 2 years.
Breast screens are free for women, and trans and gender-diverse people with no breast symptoms. It only takes 10 minutes, and you don’t need a doctor’s referral or Medicare card. Breast screens are performed by women radiographers.
You can book at breastscreen.org.au or call 13 20 50 and choose the clinic closest to your home or work.
About Maryborough District Health Service
Maryborough District Health Service is a progressive rural healthcare provider in the Central Goldfields, Victoria. Our purpose is to connect our community to GREAT healthcare.
We provide acute medical and surgical services, urgent care, oncology, dialysis, maternity services, aged care, diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied, community and mental health services, and palliative and residential care from modern campuses in Maryborough, Avoca and Dunolly.
Our vision is to change the healthcare story as we embark on a major transformation to improve health outcomes in the region.
We have a new $115 million hospital on the way to expand programs and services, and a dedicated team of around 500 staff who work with our partners to provide best practice care, teaching and education programs. Find out more at mdhs.vic.gov.au.