BreastScreen Queensland will offer free mammograms for women over 40 in Townsville

BreastScreen Queensland is offering eligible NQ women free mammograms as part of a plan to boost breast screening participation state wide.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls and breast imaging director Elizabeth Phillips have welcomed the Breastscreen QLD van to North Shore. Picture: Holly Fishlock.

BreastScreen Queensland has pulled into North Shore Bunnings, offering free mammograms for women over the age of 40.

The initiative is part of the 2032 BreastScreen QLD Strategic Plan, aiming to provide free screenings to eligible women in more than 260 locations across Queensland, including multiple locations across Townsville and North Queensland.

The plan hopes to boost the participation of women receiving mammograms by 60% across the state by 2032, hoping to detect breast cancer early and reduce the mortality rate.

A mammogram is an X-ray of breast tissue and is used as an early detection method for breast cancer in women.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the rates across Queensland for women presenting to breast screening has been declining.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls and breast imaging director Elizabeth Phillips have welcomed the BreastScreen QLD van to North Shore. Picture: Holly Fishlock.

“Currently that rate is around 51.5%,” he said.

“What we want to do with this strategy is make sure that we have made services as available as possible so that women can come and get their breast screening done.”

Mr Nicholls said he hopes the program can address the screening gap in rural and remote communities.

“Importantly, we want to reach out into rural, regional and First Nations communities,” he said.

“In First Nations communities, the breast screen rate is lower at around about 45.5%.”

The van will make stops across Townsville within the next few months, including Garbutt, Fairfield, North Ward and Magnetic Island. It will also travel to other locations in North Queensland including Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Charters Towers.

Ravenshoe woman Jane McCarthy lives 45 minutes from a hospital and needs to make the long drive for a mammogram.

But thanks to the mobile vans, Mrs McCarthy only needs to drive seven minutes for a screening.

BreastScreen QLD have opened a mobile screening clinic in North Shore. Picture: Holly Fishlock.

“Our whole town goes to the mobile van and gets their mammogram and we all get together after for coffee at the bakery,” she said.

“It’s an absolutely vital service, very much appreciated by the rural people.

“It could save your life.”

Mr Nicholls said the strategy is the next step in supporting women’s diagnoses.

“With equipment like this new one million dollar machine travelling through rural, regional and remote Queensland, we hope to be able to ensure that more women feel more comfortable and can present themselves more conveniently for screening.”

Bookings can be made on the BreastScreen Queensland website or by calling 13 20 50.

Originally published as BreastScreen Queensland will offer free mammograms for women over 40 in Townsville