A new BreastScreen NSW clinic has been established at the heart of Blacktown.
Just off Main Street, and a short walk from the train station, the new clinic offers women from the local area a convenient space to have their breasts checked for signs of cancer.
Officially opened on August 11, the Health Minister Ryan Park, Cancer Institute CEO Professor Tracey O’Brien, Stephen Bali MP, Western Sydney Local Health District Board member Dr Chandrika Subramaniyan, Interim General Manager of Westmead Hospital Alison Derrett, Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Director Nirmala Pathmanathan were proud to see the clinic become a permanent fixture.
Anna Diana Lech has been having mammograms for more than 10 years, and was one of the first women to attend the BreastScreen NSW Clinic at Blacktown.
“It’s just that the facility is so lovely here. First time coming in, it’s very welcoming and feels warmly already,” Diana said.
Following a hysterectomy and the onset of menopause, Anna’s GP recommend she start having regular mammograms.
Emigrating from Poland at just five years old and local to the Blacktown area, Anna says that having a permanent clinic will make it easier to maintain her regular appointments as she juggles caring for her husband and mother.
“Being close gives me more time to plan and don’t have to travel that far, and my time is precious,” Diana says.
Personal connection with breast cancer also prompted Tracey Marine Fisher to become a frequent preventative screener.
“My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago now, and my sister just last year,” Tracey said.
Due to her mum having breast cancer, Tracey started getting mammograms before the recommended age of 40 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
“I had a benign cyst removed when I was in my 30s so I’ve probably been more proactive since then,” Tracey said.
As one of the first patients through the new clinic at Blacktown, she said the premises were beautiful, complimented with the usual excellent service.
“The ladies [staff] are very nice, they always have been… Their hands are warm!” Tracey said.
Her advice for other women is to have the check, whether there is a family history of breast cancer or not.
“I would just always say be proactive, be proactive,” Tracey said.
To book your appointment, head to: BreastScreen NSW (BreastScreen NSW)