WEST WOMEN ACTIVE IN CANCER SCREENING
Published Monday, 05 November, 2007 at 03:05 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Mt Isa: Women of the West participate more regularly in screening for breast cancer than their city sisters, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Ms Bligh took time out from Community Cabinet commitments in the Far North West today to congratulate the women of western Queensland for leading the state in participation in the BreastScreen Queensland Program.
“Women from as far west as Mount Isa and as far south as Charleville are heeding the message about the importance of having a regular breastscreen every two years,” Ms Bligh said.
“Approximately just over 58 percent of all Queensland women aged 50 to 69 years are having regular breast screens.
“But current data shows that participation rates are significantly higher for women in rural and remote areas compared to women in metropolitan areas.
“The participation rate for women in metropolitan areas of Queensland is just 54 percent.
“That rate climbs to between 59-66 percent for women living in rural and remote communities.
“For example, women living in areas like Mount Isa, Hughenden and Charters Towers have a participation rate of more than 66 percent.
“Rates for the rest of central Queensland, including areas such as Longreach, Charleville, Toowoomba and Rockhampton are more than 59 percent
“These figures demonstrate how important it is for women in rural and remote areas to have access to BreastScreen Queensland Services and ensuring that women from every corner of the State are screened for breast cancer.
“Each year, more than 42,000 women from rural and remote areas are screened for breast cancer through BreastScreen Queensland Services,” she said.
The breastscreening message was advanced again today in the State’s North West with the QantasLink Pink Ribbon Plane - the National Breast Cancer Foundation linked aircraft – taking Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Directors General and others to Mt Isa for the Community cabinet meeting.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Queensland Health has a statewide service of 15 Mobile Women’s Health Nurses and two Indigenous Women’s Health Workers that provide breastscreens.
These services cover more than 211 rural and remote communities across Queensland and travel over 200,000 kilometres by road, sea and air a year.
The service caters for a range of women’s health needs, including support and advice to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mr Robertson said that BreastScreen Queensland also has a relocatable service that provides access for women in Far North Queensland, covering the whole of Cape York and across the water to the Torres Straits.
Ms Bligh said this means women in the bush are able to have a breastscreen every two years, which gives the best chance of detecting breast cancer early.
“More than 75 percent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, so it is imperative that all women in this target age group join Queensland Health’s BreastScreen Queensland Program.
“While participation in regular breastscreens for women in the west are some of the best in the state and Australia, there is always room for improvement,” said the Premier.
Member for Mt Isa Betty Kiernan MP said the next few months offered the perfect opportunity for women from the west of the state to have a free breastscreen.
“The mobile units will be visiting a range of locations over the coming months,” she said.
“Women who want to arrange a breastscreen appointment should telephone 132050 for information about when the BreastScreen Queensland mobile service next visits their local area.”
“Or for more information visit www.health.qld.gov.au/breastscreen ,” she said.
BreastScreen Queensland provided screening for more than 201,000 Queensland women last year.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death among Queensland women.
Approximately 2,200 Queensland women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, of which about 450 will die.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3234 1190
Ms Bligh took time out from Community Cabinet commitments in the Far North West today to congratulate the women of western Queensland for leading the state in participation in the BreastScreen Queensland Program.
“Women from as far west as Mount Isa and as far south as Charleville are heeding the message about the importance of having a regular breastscreen every two years,” Ms Bligh said.
“Approximately just over 58 percent of all Queensland women aged 50 to 69 years are having regular breast screens.
“But current data shows that participation rates are significantly higher for women in rural and remote areas compared to women in metropolitan areas.
“The participation rate for women in metropolitan areas of Queensland is just 54 percent.
“That rate climbs to between 59-66 percent for women living in rural and remote communities.
“For example, women living in areas like Mount Isa, Hughenden and Charters Towers have a participation rate of more than 66 percent.
“Rates for the rest of central Queensland, including areas such as Longreach, Charleville, Toowoomba and Rockhampton are more than 59 percent
“These figures demonstrate how important it is for women in rural and remote areas to have access to BreastScreen Queensland Services and ensuring that women from every corner of the State are screened for breast cancer.
“Each year, more than 42,000 women from rural and remote areas are screened for breast cancer through BreastScreen Queensland Services,” she said.
The breastscreening message was advanced again today in the State’s North West with the QantasLink Pink Ribbon Plane - the National Breast Cancer Foundation linked aircraft – taking Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Directors General and others to Mt Isa for the Community cabinet meeting.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Queensland Health has a statewide service of 15 Mobile Women’s Health Nurses and two Indigenous Women’s Health Workers that provide breastscreens.
These services cover more than 211 rural and remote communities across Queensland and travel over 200,000 kilometres by road, sea and air a year.
The service caters for a range of women’s health needs, including support and advice to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mr Robertson said that BreastScreen Queensland also has a relocatable service that provides access for women in Far North Queensland, covering the whole of Cape York and across the water to the Torres Straits.
Ms Bligh said this means women in the bush are able to have a breastscreen every two years, which gives the best chance of detecting breast cancer early.
“More than 75 percent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, so it is imperative that all women in this target age group join Queensland Health’s BreastScreen Queensland Program.
“While participation in regular breastscreens for women in the west are some of the best in the state and Australia, there is always room for improvement,” said the Premier.
Member for Mt Isa Betty Kiernan MP said the next few months offered the perfect opportunity for women from the west of the state to have a free breastscreen.
“The mobile units will be visiting a range of locations over the coming months,” she said.
“Women who want to arrange a breastscreen appointment should telephone 132050 for information about when the BreastScreen Queensland mobile service next visits their local area.”
“Or for more information visit www.health.qld.gov.au/breastscreen ,” she said.
BreastScreen Queensland provided screening for more than 201,000 Queensland women last year.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death among Queensland women.
Approximately 2,200 Queensland women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, of which about 450 will die.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3234 1190