The BreastScreen van has parked at North Rocks Shopping Centre as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The van, staffed by female breast screening specialists, will be stationed in the car park until Thursday, October 19. It will be giving eligible women the chance to have a free breast check.
North Rocks Shopping Centre national marketing manager Cheryl Kemp said the centre was keen to make the service available for women.
“North Rocks Shopping Centre is a community-oriented centre,” Ms Kemp said.
“With this in mind, we wanted to raise awareness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October and facilitate this important service for our local women.”
It is recommended that women aged 50 to 74 have regular mammograms every two years.
A mammogram takes just 15 minutes.
Westmead BCI director Associate Professor Nirmala Pathmanathan encouraged women to make time for their health and keep up regular screening. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, with almost 16,000 women diagnosed every year,” she said.
“However, only half of all women in the target age group are being regularly screened in western Sydney.
“We need to significantly increase the number of women screening and in turn reduce the number of women dying from this disease.”
To book a free mammogram at the van or at a BreastScreen clinic, contact BreastScreen on 13 20 50.
Media source: Breast cancer awareness brings service to North Rocks Shopping Centre was originally published by Hills News.