BATHURST women are being urged to book a breast screen after figures revealed the city has one of the lowest testing rates in the western district.
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BreastScreen health promotion officer Lisa Maxey said she was working to educate Bathurst women about the screening service available at the local hospital.
While unable to release the screening figures, Ms Maxey said many factors were responsible for Bathurst’s low numbers.
When the service was first rolled out, the Bathurst community was to be serviced in Orange. Then a mobile van was purchased to service Bathurst, before a fixed site was built at Bathurst hospital in 2008.
“Now we are trying to build the service around that,” Ms Maxey said. “Educating community and health practitioners about available services takes time.”
Ms Maxey said women were more inclined to use a mobile van because it was only there for a limited time.
She reasoned that they can become complacent and fail to make time to be screened when the service is available at a fixed site.
“Apathy and procrastination can be the biggest problems,” she said.
“The numbers are building since we started a weekly service. People are getting behind it.”
Ms Maxey said the service was free, without the need for referral, to all women over 40.
“It’s especially important for women aged 50 to 69 because that’s when incidences of breast cancer peak,” she said.
BreastScreen operates on Tuesday and Wednesday. Evening appointments are offered on Tuesday.
“The earlier breast cancer is detected, the greater the range of treatment available, and the greater the likelihood of a positive outcome,” Ms Maxey said.
Appointments can be made during business hours by calling 13 20 50.
