TWO years go by quickly for some women with many already finding themselves walking through the BreastScreen SA mobile van’s doors for their next bi-annual check up.
The free breast screening service has the potential to save many lives with the mobile facility stationed at the Mount Gambier hospital until December.
Many Limestone Coast women are expected to have their breasts checked within the next six months, with staff seeing an average of 48 clients a day.
Across the coming months, the medical professionals will screen around 7200 women across the entire Limestone Coast.
Around 4400 of these women are expected to be from Mount Gambier and surrounding districts, with 1300 expected from Millicent and 1500 from Naracoorte.
BreastScreen SA provides regional and rural women aged between 50 and 74 free mammograms, aimed at preventing future cases of breast cancer.
With one in 10 South Australian women developing breast cancer before the age of 75, early detection can maximise the options for simpler treatments and more successful outcomes.
Enjoying the road and helping women across the state, BreastScreen SA receptionist Ingrid Englert said the facilities do not cost clients anything “but a smile.”
“We are pretty well booked because when we are out on the road, ladies know that if they get a service provided to them, they will want to use it before it goes,” she said.
“We still have plenty of bookings left so there is no need for women to panic.”
Ms Englert said the service provided a range of benefits for regional women across the state year-round.
“We could possibly capture a small breast cancer that is completely treatable and we really wish to focus on prevention,” she said.
“We are here to look after ladies and ensure they get the best care they can.
“The van is not a scary face and all staff are very friendly.”
Contact 132 050 to book an appointment, with the service open 8.30am Monday to Friday.
