Residents of Pakenham and surrounding suburbs are getting better access to life-saving breast cancer screening and specialist care close to home under a multi-million-dollar investment.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Martin Foley announced an additional eight permanent BreastScreen Victoria services across the state.
The investment will provide more Victorians access to vital preventative breast scans and specialist treatment to find cancer early.
Three temporary sites Pakenham, Craigieburn and Hoppers Lane will be converted into permanent sites with greater capacity.
Five new permanent breast screening services in the Local Government Areas of Whittlesea, Casey, Greater Geelong/Surf Coast Shire, Melton and Moreland will be established and completed by January 2025.
The new services are part of a $20 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 – delivering breast screening services to an additional 36,000 eligible Victorians every year by 2026.
Premier Andrews said earlier detection will help more Victorians survive breast cancer.
“We’re making it even easier to get screened with eight additional breast screening services across the state,“ Premier Andrews said.
The funding will also support the expansion of BreastScreen Victoria’s Reading and Assessment services (RAS) in Parkville and Monash along with support strategies designed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women accessing services.
Minister for Health Martin Foley agreed early screening was the key to survival.
“That’s why having a free, two-yearly screen is so important and could save your life,“ Mr Foley said.
Breast cancer mortality rates have decreased by almost two per cent a year since 1994, however, in 2020 alone 4,575 Victorian women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 766 died from the disease.
BreastScreen Victoria currently provides services at 46 permanent screening clinics.
About six per cent of BreastScreen Victoria clients are called back to a RAS for further investigation.
The Victorian Cancer Plan 2020-2024 has set targets to reduce the harm caused by all cancers and save 10,000 lives by 2025.
Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams said breast cancer screening was more accessible than ever.
“We’re delivering breast screening services to thousands more Victorians every year and I urge all Victorians not to wait.“
BreastScreen Victoria provides free two-yearly breast screening for eligible Victorians without symptoms.
Those who are due to be screened can book an appointment at a service by calling 13 20 50 or visiting breastcreen.org.au
