Wrights Road Community Centre hosted the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute’s mobile van in August.
The van, staffed by female breast screening specialists, stationed at the Kellyville centre, gave eligible women the chance to have a free breast check.
Westmead Breast Cancer Institute director Nirmala Pathmanathan encouraged women to make time for their health and keep up with regular screening.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, with almost 16,000 women diagnosed every year,” she said.
“However, only half of all women in the target age group are being regularly screened in western Sydney.
“Finding breast cancer in its early stages can save lives, so we need to raise awareness about the importance of screening.”
The institute recommends that women aged 50-74 have regular mammograms every two years, given one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Next to the community centre is the home ground of the Rouse Hill Rhinos Junior Rugby League Club which hosted its own ‘Pink Day’ on July 15 in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Club secretary Rowena Mezzomo said she was delighted to have the van nearby: “We have a tight knit community in Kellyville and we want to support the women in our community in the early detection of breast cancer,” she said.
Source: Rouse Hill Courier published 17 August 2017.