Women, employers urged to make breast screening a team event

Capital Airport Group staff who recently attended a BreastScreen ACT clinic as a team. Photo: Supplied.

Getting a breast check can be daunting for a woman, but the moral support to be drawn from a group mammogram booking can take the edge off the experience.

BreastScreen ACT is encouraging Canberra women to make group bookings with friends or workplace colleagues, after the recent success of a major Canberra employer organising a staff booking.

The Director of BreastScreen ACT, Yvonne Epping, said group bookings were a good option for women who were nervous about having a mammogram, or simply wanted support and companionship before and after the test.

“Group bookings are a great way to get together with friends or colleagues and do something positive and preventative for yourselves,” Ms Epping said.

BreastScreen ACT is particularly encouraging employers to support their staff to get a mammogram and come as a workplace group booking.

Capital Airport Group (CAG) has done just that, recently organising a group booking with BreastScreen ACT for its staff.

Manager of Human Resources at CAG, Leesa Baker said staff were offered the opportunity to have a mammogram during work time to make it easy for them in their busy lives and to encourage them to look after their health.

“We were happy that so many women signed up and that they had the support of their friends and co-workers through this group booking. The feedback from the team has been overwhelmingly positive.”

One of the staff who participated, Stacey, said the CAG group booking motivated her to get a mammogram.

“I don’t think I would have booked myself a mammogram,” she said. “Having my workplace support and facilitate it made it so easy.”

BreastScreen ACT mammograms are available to all ACT resident women aged 40 or over. There is no cost for the test, which takes only a few minutes.

Ms Epping said women aged 50 -74 years should have a mammogram every two years.

“It’s the most effective screening test for finding breast cancer early,” she said. “Don’t delay.”

BreastScreen ACT has three screening clinics in the ACT at Phillip Health Centre, City Health Centre, and Belconnen Health Centre

To make an appointment, call 13 20 50.

Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on the RiotACT.