The Cancer Institute NSW has been awarded $500,000 towards expanding cancer screenings across the state, following a record-breaking number of mammograms from BreastScreen NSW in May.
The funding was announced on Wednesday and aims to extend multiple cancer control programs to encourage more women, First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people to be screened.
With a focus on Liverpool, Illawarra, Newcastle and Far West NSW areas, the funds will be distributed towards various institutions and services, many of which directly support Indigenous and CALD communities.
In announcing the initiative, Acting Premier Prue Car encouraged women to “keep the momentum going” in receiving screenings – specifically women over the age of 50 who have not received a mammogram in the past 2 years.
“Around one in seven women will develop breast cancer but we know early detection saves lives,” Car continued. “Pick up the phone or go online to book on your breast screen. It could save your life.”
NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, says “it is really encouraging” to see the number of screenings over the period and credited BreastScreen NSW for supporting communities.
“Record numbers of women from metro, regional and remote NSW had a breast screen in May, which is an increase of nearly 15 percent compared with the same period in 2019,” Park explained.
“NSW has one of the highest survival rates for most cancers, and that’s due in part to programs like BreastScreen.”
Record-breaking Screenings
Over 37,000 women attended BreastScreen NSW clinics for mammograms in May, making the month the highest number of women screened in the clinic’s history. Furthermore, there was peak in the number of Indigenous and CALD people who received screenings during this time.
With over 372,000 women who have been screened from BreastScreen NSW clinics and mobile services in the past financial year, is the highest annual number of tests seen from the service.
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien, explained that breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women, with nine out of 10 women diagnosed having no family history with the disease.
The rise in breast cancer screenings has been seen across the state. Image BreastScreen NSW/Facebook
O’Brien continued stressing for women to continue to receive breast screenings, saying it is “the best way to detect breast cancer early and save lives.”
“We know that one-third of cancers can be prevented and another third can be detected and treated early through regular screening. I urge all eligible women to keep the momentum going and take advantage of NSW’s life-saving breast cancer screening program,” says O’Brien.
Supporting Multicultural Communities
With the new funding, multiple cancer services that specialise on diversity will receive grants in order to expand tests for bowel, breast and cervical cancer, and promote healthy living throughout communities.
Services from Metro Assist, Ethnic Communities Council of NSW and Community Migrant Resource Centre are a part of the twenty groups receiving grants from this recent award.
With groups centred around south-western Sydney, MP for the Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda discussed the impact of the funding due to the “significant barriers in accessing cancer screening and care” for multicultural communities.
“NSW is a global leader in cancer care but people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are often at higher risk of cancer and are less likely to use cancer screening services due to barriers in accessing and engaging in services,” says Kaliyanda.
“I want all women to know breast cancer screening is safe, discreet and free for women aged between 50 and 74.”
With the various services selected by Cancer Institute NSW to expand screening programs, the projects are expected to begin soon in order to help prevent cancer and provide appropriate care.
