❓ Hon Stephen Dawson inquires about mammogram services for women under 40 in Port Hedland and Karratha. The Minister clarifies the availability of diagnostic ultrasounds and explains why routine mammogram screening is not provided for this age group, citing national policy and radiation licensing.
AnsweredQoN 2728Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to mammogram services for women in Port Hedland and Karratha, and I ask: (a) in a case where a woman under 40 presents at her general practitioner with a breast lump that requires investigation, what mammogram screening service is available; (b) if no service is available, what is the process for a woman who lives in Port Hedland or Karratha to access mammogram screening; and (c) if no services are available for screening of women under 40 in Port Hedland and Karratha, will the Minister please advise why this is the case?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 March 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
(1) Women under 40 are not eligible for mammogram screening services and symptomatic women are not clinically appropriate for mammography screening.
Women with symptoms would be able to undergo diagnostic breast ultrasounds in South Hedland and Karratha as Global Diagnostics provide a publicly funded ultrasound service at Hedland Health Campus and Karratha hospital. Breast ultrasound is available daily and fine needle aspirations are available one day per month at both sites. These are the most relevant services for women referred with possible breast cancers. There is no fixed site mammography service situated in Karratha or Port Hedland.
(2) BreastScreen WA (BSWA) provides free screening mammograms to asymptomatic women over the age of 40, every 2 years. From 2015, BSWA will be taking the mammography screening bus to South Hedland and Karratha annually. Perth breast clinics run out of Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).
(3) BSWA is unable to screen women under the age of 40 as it is outside of the National policy with respect to mammography screening, and the scope of its radiation licence from the Radiological Council. If an asymptomatic woman under the age of 40 requires a screening mammogram because they are at high risk of breast cancer (for example, they have a very strong history of breast cancer, or a personal past history of breast cancer), then they would be eligible for PATS to attend for a free screening mammogram at RPH, or to attend the FSH Family History Breast Clinic for a comprehensive breast care service.
Women with symptoms would be able to undergo diagnostic breast ultrasounds in South Hedland and Karratha as Global Diagnostics provide a publicly funded ultrasound service at Hedland Health Campus and Karratha hospital. Breast ultrasound is available daily and fine needle aspirations are available one day per month at both sites. These are the most relevant services for women referred with possible breast cancers. There is no fixed site mammography service situated in Karratha or Port Hedland.
(2) BreastScreen WA (BSWA) provides free screening mammograms to asymptomatic women over the age of 40, every 2 years. From 2015, BSWA will be taking the mammography screening bus to South Hedland and Karratha annually. Perth breast clinics run out of Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).
(3) BSWA is unable to screen women under the age of 40 as it is outside of the National policy with respect to mammography screening, and the scope of its radiation licence from the Radiological Council. If an asymptomatic woman under the age of 40 requires a screening mammogram because they are at high risk of breast cancer (for example, they have a very strong history of breast cancer, or a personal past history of breast cancer), then they would be eligible for PATS to attend for a free screening mammogram at RPH, or to attend the FSH Family History Breast Clinic for a comprehensive breast care service.
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