Grappling with breasts

Grappling with breasts Port Macquarie News

Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Posted By Robin Cartledge

Breasts might be sexy, but breast cancer can hardly raise a ripple. That seems to be the case with my local independent member for Port Macquarie, Rob Oakeshott.
I have raised this issue before and since the recent state election and still cannot get any acknowledgement that this issue exists.
Detection of breast cancer provides the best chance of effective treatment for women with the disease.
Benefits of early detection include increased survival, increased treatment options and improved quality of life.
These are well recorded facts, and the evidence is available on the National Breast cancer Centre (NBCC) site.
For women, age remains the biggest risk factor in the development of breast cancer with over 70% of cases found in women aged 50 years and older. NBCC claims that women from Around 40 should have regular free access to screening.
My concern, indeed the concern of many younger women I talk to, is that women younger than 50 have limited access to free screening.
In fact even with a doctors referral woman younger than 45 are required to pay for screening regardless of the risk.
Women of different ages who are at population risk and for women of all ages who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer should have access to free screening.
NBCC say that in younger women, tumours are likely to be larger and more aggressive and overall survival is lower than for older women with the disease.
This is not simply a heath issue but an economic imperative. Limiting screening to a narrow age group has potentially disastrous outcomes in both areas.
On a personal level many women are simply not able to access early detection. The knowledge of the potential and the cost restraints for screening must add to the risk through associated stress.
On the economic side the state, or the country for that matter, would be well in front treating early onset rather than needing to fund intensive oncology units.
This issue became a concern to me when I met the lady of my dreams. She is in the high risk group and does not have access to free screening outside of her 2 yearly allowance. Since then I have become aware of many other younger women at risk but unable to easily access screening.
We are not only increasing the risk to our countries wonderful women, we are creating an enormous cost blowout in our health system.