March 2004

BreastScreen service opens in Moonee Ponds

North Western BreastScreen has expanded its free breast screening services for women over 40 with the official opening of its newest site in Moonee Ponds.

The opening of Essendon BreastScreen at 262 Maribyrnong Road, Moonee Ponds, brings to five the number of North Western BreastScreen sites in the region.

North Western BreastScreen’s other sites are at Brimbank, Footscray, Broadmeadows and Carlton.

It also provides a visiting service to Werribee, Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Kyneton, Gisborne, Port Phillip, Sunbury and Seymour.

The service is part of BreastScreen Victoria.

BreastScreen Victoria is a government-funded mammography screening program for women without breast symptoms or breast problems.

The program is aimed at early detection of breast cancer to make treatment more effective.

While the service is free for all women over the age of 40, the program specifically targets women aged between 50 and 69, as breast x-ray screening is most effective among women in this age group.

Women wishing to make use of the service at any of the North Western BreastScreen sites should telephone 13 20 50 to make an appointment.

The official opening of Essendon BreastScreen conincided with the launch of a community arts project, an exhibition of works by local women and recent arrivals from the Horn of Africa.

The project was a joint initiative of BreastScreen Victoria and Arts Access.

North Western BreastScreen is part of Melbourne Health.