Tuesday, 29 October 2024

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:40): Gippsland BreastScreen turns 30 – 30 years of Gippsland BreastScreen being at the forefront of early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Last week I was thrilled to celebrate the milestone with Kelly Giersch, manager of Traralgon BreastScreen, and her fabulous staff, who know firsthand that early detection saves lives. Located across Bairnsdale, Sale, Wonthaggi, Warragul and Traralgon, it is an amazing place and a very warm and welcoming place, and the bus visiting other centres is regularly booked out. I met inspiring women, such as Wendy, Emily, Betty – the fabulous, colourful Betty – and Steph, who are so professional. I met volunteers Dianne Rayner and Kaye Jones, who make the care cushions provided post operation. In the past 12 months there have been over 17,000 screens. Of those, in Traralgon alone, 750 women were called back for further assessment and 140 of those had a positive diagnosis and hence a treatment plan. Early intervention saves lives.

It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month, and I encourage all women to take time out to care for their own health, to assess their body and to either consider making a breast-screening appointment – it is cheap and easy; it is free, costs nothing and takes 10 minutes – or consider going to their GP regarding their breasts and other health issues.