That's why she is among the voices calling for BreastScreen services to be restored as soon as possible.

It was announced this month that BreastScreen, as part of NSW Health, had decided to temporarily suspend all routine breast screening services in NSW.

The decision was made "in response to the increasing risk posed by the COVID-19 Delta strain and a need to redeploy staff to support the pandemic response at each local health district".

Councillor Alex Christian said that the decision could end up costing lives in the future, as people put off their screening and fail to get an early diagnosis.

If the situation hasn't changed by the next meeting, he will ask Bathurst Regional Council to write a letter to the state government to request the decision be reversed.

READ MORE: Christian wants councils to join the BreastScreen fight

Cr Rudge said she would vote in favour of the letter.

"I absolutely would support a letter if that is going to make any difference, if we're going to get some further information back on what they're doing and if they've got a timeframe set, I would support it," she said.

"It would be reckless of me to say I wouldn't, particularly being a breast cancer survivor and belonging to a group of women who are breast cancer survivors."

Cr Rudge said she understands tough decisions have to be made in pandemics, but feels there has to be a way that routine breast screening can be carried out that is safe for both the clinician and the patient.

"I understand the situation that they're in because it's very difficult to do a mammogram and not be close to the person, I appreciate that. Obviously the people in Health have made that decision around the health advice in regards to COVID and I can't speak on that," she said.

"... But surely we can find some way of protecting the person that's operating the machine and protecting the patient having the mammogram as well. I think a little bit of extra thought needs to be put in so mammograms can indeed recommence."

BreastScreen has advised men and women to remain "breast aware" and contact a doctor if they notice any unusual changes.

While self exams are an effective way to identify a problem, Cr Rudge said they can't always be relied on.

"In my particular case, self-checking would not have picked up my cancer. It was picked up through a mammogram," she said.

"Some of them are easy to detect through self examination, but not all of them are, so it is very, very important. And it's extremely important to get the diagnosis early."

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