Life Saving Breast Screenings on Offer at GRAMS

Mid West woman are being urged to take the opportunity for potentially life-saving free breast cancer screenings at Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (GRAMS) from March 14 to 24.

The BreastScreen WA (BSWA)10-metre van will be parked at the GRAMS Rifle Range Road clinic to encourage Aboriginal women aged over 40 years to attend for a free mammogram.
GRAMS CEO and Breast Cancer survivor Deborah Woods said “Having the highly visual van at the premises was a real coup in GRAMS’ ongoing bid to encourage preventative health care.

“GRAMS had been working for the past several years to encourage women to take advantage of free screenings. Having been through this first-hand and knowing the absolute difference early detection makes, this really is a potentially lifesaving screening.”

Dedicated GRAMS chronic disease registered nurse Blaise Chapman stated that In 2010 the attendance for GRAMS patients at the BSWA van was 78 women. In 2012, GRAMS’s ran a health promotion clinic which resulted in 176 women having a mammogram and in 2014 they ran another clinic in which 209 women attended.

“Of this 209, two patients were diagnosed with breast cancer and five were recalled for a biopsy.

“With the BSWA van parked at GRAMS this year for the first time, we’re hoping to encourage even more women to attend.

“The more women who attend, the better the chance of detecting breast cancer while they are still treatable.” Ms Chapman said

Attendees should book at least 24 hours in advance of their visit by phoning the GRAMS clinic on 9956 6555

The van will be open from 8.30 to 4pm on Monday March 14, Tuesday March 15 and Thursday March 17. It will open from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday March 16 and 9am to 1pm on Saturday March 19.

The following week it will open from 10am to 6pm on Monday March 21 and 8.30am to 4pm from Tuesday March 22 to Thursday March 24.