Women in Dandenong are being encouraged to take up BreastScreen Victoria\u2019s free breast screening program thanks to a push from their local member.<\/p>\n
Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, is taking up the challenge to encourage more women in the community to prioritise their health and get a free breast screen.<\/p>\n
Regular breast screens are an essential component of wellbeing for women over the age of 50, but the latest BreastScreen Victoria participation statistics reveal that only 45% of Dandenong women aged 50-74 had a mammogram between July 2014 and June 2016. Across the state, the participation rate is 54%.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m calling on local women to prioritise a breast screen every two years, along with other important routine health checks,\u201d said Ms Williams.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis result tells us that 5,172 women in Dandenong didn\u2019t have a breast screen in the two years to the end of June 2016. I hope we see this number decrease as more women prioritise their health.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not yet in the 50-74 age bracket, perhaps you can support someone you know to have a breast screen. Maybe you can even go with them to their appointment \u2013 a breast screen takes just 10 minutes and is with a woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seventy-five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will be over the age of 50, the vast majority of whom will have no family history of the disease.<\/p>\n
BreastScreen Victoria targets women aged 50-74 with early detection giving women the best chance of successful treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n