COFFEE in a B cup could save lives in Mildura.
Breast screenings in Mildura have surged tenfold since Grinders Coffee Town Café last year launched their Coffee in a B cup initiative.
Women who have their BreastScreen mammogram at Sunraysia Medical Imaging can then collect a free cup of coffee from the café on Ninth Street.
Its success is all in the numbers: 1308 women were screened in Mildura from January to June last year with 10 diagnosed with cancer.
Twenty women were further assessed at their private general practitioner in Mildura, while another 122 went to Bendigo for treatment.
BreastScreen Victoria spokesperson Anne Learmouth lauded Mildura’s 2011 breast screen rate as the highest in Victoria.
“Mildura recorded its highest amount of breast screens ever last year,” she said.
“Our call centre experiences a spike that is directly traceable to the promotional activity.
“But we have to remain vigilant in maintaining that rate to ensure that as many eligible women from age 50 to 69 are aware of this proven service.”
A free screening mammogram every two years for women aged 40 and over is proven to be the best way to find breast cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Grinders Coffee Town owner Gavin Dunbar said personal experience prompted him to start the Coffee in a B cup initiative.
“My dad died a couple of years ago from cancer and it really hit home – I thought: What can I do to help out,” he said.
Nola Jones, BreastScreen receptionist at Sunraysia Medical Imaging, said there was nothing embarrassing about having a breast check.
“We have a little office where I take people through paper work and answer as many questions as women like,” she said.
“Everyone hears horrible stories that it hurts but I am their first point of contact and I try to allay those fears.
“It is a bit like taking medicine – it doesn’t take long – it’s a five-second compression.
“The alternative is far worse than having a few moments of being uncomfortable.”
Member for Mildura Peter Crisp said Mildura recorded a 64 per cent participation rate for breast screens in 2008-10 – above the state average of 53.8 per cent.
“When breast cancer touches an individual, it tends to touch an extended group in Sunraysia and that prompts more people to have a check up” he said.
“The rule with cancer is that early detection increases your survival rate.
“As our participation rate rises, our cancer survival rate rises and you get more survivors talking about their experience.
“We need people to continue to talk about this – put your breast cancer check into your coffee routine.”
Women are encouraged to invite a friend and help spread the word over coffee – women who have a family history of breast cancer should get screened more frequently.
Free mammogram screens can be booked by calling 13 11 20 on weekdays.
For more information, visit www.breastscreen.org.au
This article appeared in Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 04/02/2012.
Email a friend