Women in Melbourne can now be screened for breast cancer while out shopping, with a new BreastScreen clinic opening at the David Jones store in Bourke Street.
Victoria Premier John Brumby, Health Minister Daniel Andrews and David Jones ambassador Megan Gale launched the new clinic, which has been developed with St Vincent's Hospital.
Mr Brumby hopes BreastScreen Victoria's Rose Clinic will encourage more women to have breast cancer screening.
“This service will offer free breast screen appointments to more than 7,000 Victorian women each year.”, he said. “Cancer research and treatment is a high priority for the Victorian Government and our plan aims to increase cancer survival rates for Victorians by a further 10 percent by 2015.”
Early detection vital
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer affecting women in Victoria, but doctors say finding it early gives the best chance of successful treatment.
Women aged 50-69 are invited for screening every two years. BreastScreen Victoria screens more than 190,000 women every year.
“Almost half of invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed each year in Victoria are detected by the BreastScreen Victoria program.”, said Health Minister Daniel Andrews.
“The five year survival rates of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer has increased from 74 per cent in 1990 to 87 per cent in 2004.”
