HEALTH

STAY ABREAST OF YOUR HEALTH

OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer screening and early detection.

Women aged 50 to 74 are encouraged to book a free potentially life-saving mammogram, or breast screen, as early detection in the localised stage has a 99 per cent survival rate.

One normal breast screen result doesn’t mean you’ll never get breast cancer. Go back regularly to check that a breast cancer hasn’t started to grow since your last screen.

Reminders for a screen are sent every two years.

The risk of breast cancer increases greatly after the age of 50. For every 100 people diagnosed with breast cancer, five will be under 40, 15 will be 40-49 and 80 will be 50 or over.

Research has found that regular breast screening of women aged 50 to 74 is effective in finding breast cancers and reducing deaths from breast cancer.

For those 75 and over, there are different risks and benefits of breast screening. Women in this group should speak to their doctor first.

A breast screen uses a special machine to look for very small cancers that can’t be seen or felt by a woman or her doctor but can be more easily treated.

Some women will need to have a breast screen every year. This might be because they have a strong family history, previous benign breast disease or another reason.

Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a healthcare professional.

Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer. Now stocking more brands and the largest size range from AA to K.

Great news for the women of Brisbane who struggle to fi nd a great fi tting bra. Our new bigger brighter store has enabled us to expand our range to include sports bras, full fi gure and maternity as well as our traditional post mastectomy wear. Our goal is expertly fi t your bra so you feel amazing in your clothes. Visit our new store and experience the Tracey G service. ew store and experience G

967 STANLEY ST, EAST BRISBANE • 0466 828 143

ALSO AT - Unit 6, 1 NORVAL COURT, MAROOCHYDORE Phone: 0466 828 144 WWW.TRACEYG.COM