Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Currently 36 women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. In 2012, 14,610 women are predicted to be diagnosed with breast cancer. By 2020, 17,210 women are predicted to be diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Australia. This is an average of more than 47 women a day. Increasing age is one of the strongest risk factors for developing breast cancer. More than two in three cases of breast cancers occur in women aged between 40 and 69 years. On average, seven women die from breast cancer every day in Australia.

Finding breast cancer early increases the chance of surviving the disease. Improvements in survival are attributed to early detection of breast cancer through regular mammograms and improved treatment outcomes for breast cancer. Australian women diagnosed with breast cancers have an 89 per cent chance of surviving five years after diagnosis.

Last Tuesday I held a breast cancer morning tea at the Windale-Gateshead Bowling Club. On that morning we raised over $400, and we had pretty close to 100 women in attendance. We had fantastic speakers. We had Judy Jobling, who is a PhD student. She talked about her research into breast density. Julie Wilson, who is an assistant designated radiographer, spoke about myth busting and the screening process. Jeanette Johnston, who is a breast cancer survivor, bravely shared her experience with us there on the morning. She was not the only survivor present. There were a number of women who had had breast cancer. I think the most poignant story shared with me was from a woman who had been diagnosed three weeks earlier. She was waiting to have surgery. She is going to have surgery on 21 November because she has heart complications and a number of other issues. I think she was very brave to attend the morning tea, and I also believe that she learnt a lot there and felt the support of all those present.

In addition, we had the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation. It is a not-for-profit organisation. The women from that organisation came along in great numbers to provide support for the breast cancer morning tea. The primary role of the foundation is to offer newly diagnosed women support during their treatment. It was really wonderful to be able to connect the lady who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, who was about to undergo surgery and go through that long treatment regime, with the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation. They were very supportive.

Hunter BreastScreen is a fantastic organisation. I regularly have my breast-screening mammogram, and two years ago I had a recall. When I had the recall I just thought that I had moved during the mammogram or that there was a mistake or something like that, so I ducked back. When I arrived, I was taken into a little anteroom, and there was a breast counsellor nurse who spoke to me, reassured me and went through the whole process. I had a support person appointed for the day, and then I went into a room and there were about 10 other women in the room.

I then went through a process of having a second mammogram and an ultrasound. I was lucky because I had no problems at all, and in fact 90 per cent of women who are recalled for a breast screening are found to have no problem whatsoever with their breasts.

Hunter BreastScreen is a wonderful service. I encourage all women to make sure that they have regular mammograms, because 90 per cent of people, when they are recalled, do not have a problem. But, if you do not have the screening, you do not know whether you have a problem. (Time expired)

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