By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 10-minute free check-up can save your life, as Greater Dandenong councillor Roz Blades can attest.
Cr Blades helped launch the visit of BreastScreen Victoria’s bright-pink mobile screening van in Dandenong.
It will remain parked in Palm Plaza, providing free breast screens for women aged 50-74 until 27 September.
The tests are recognised as the best way to detect breast cancer early – and to improve the chances of successful treatment.
In Cr Blades’s case, she had no obvious symptoms when she was diagnosed at 53.
A regular breast-screen detected a “lump” – which was a cancer – thankfully at an early stage.
“It wouldn’t have been picked up except by a mammogram,” Cr Blades says.
There’s no downside for taking the quick test, she argues.
“If there’s nothing wrong, you don’t have to worry about (another screen) for two more years.
“If they find something, it can be fixed. And the earlier, the better.
“I’m hoping my story will encourage women from Greater Dandenong to get a breast screen because it could save your life.”
The van is part of a concerted effort to boost screening rates across Greater Dandenong’s culturally diverse communities.
The van has been heavily promoted at community health services, neighbourhood houses and community groups.
Visitors don’t require doctor’s referrals or Medicare cards.
To book at the breast-screen van, contact breastscreen.org.au or 13 20 50.
