A new permanent BreastScreen NSW clinic will soon be available in Blacktown, providing women in the community with access to free breast screening services all year round.
Minister for Health Ryan Park today announced the new location, which will better support the almost 60 per cent of eligible women in the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) who are overdue for their two-yearly breast screen.
The new clinic at Warrick Lane, Blacktown, will be open in of the middle of 2025, seven days a week and will deliver vital breast screening services to more than 80,000 women who live and work in the Blacktown area.
A mobile screening van is currently active at various locations across the Blacktown Local Government Area, including the Blacktown Workers Sports Club and Blacktown City Council to service the Blacktown community.
Other western Sydney screening sites can also be found at Mount Druitt Hospital, Castle Towers Shopping Centre and Parramatta Westfield. There is capacity available at all of these clinics and mobile sites, with no delays for screening appointments.
You can find details of these locations as well as more screening centres near you at BreastScreen NSW - Screening locations or by calling 13 20 50.
For women aged 50-74 years, a breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Breast screening is available from the age of 40.
BreastScreen NSW recommends Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a mammogram every two years from age 40.
Anyone with breast symptoms should contact their GP or health worker without delay.
Any woman with a family history of breast cancer should discuss their needs with their GP. To book a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, call 13 20 50 or visit BreastScreen NSW – Online booking.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park
“We encourage all eligible women in western Sydney to make breast screening a priority.
“Early detection is the key with breast cancer, and a mammogram is one of the most important things eligible women can do for their health and I strongly urge women in Blacktown to visit the team when the new service opens.
“It takes just 20 minutes of your time, with no doctor's referral required, and could save your life."
Quotes attributable to Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali
“Having a permanent clinic at Blacktown will enable more western Sydney women to have this life-saving screening in a convenient location.
“This new clinic with comfortable surroundings will treat women with dignity and increase screening participation, which is lower for many multicultural communities, often due to barriers like language, health literacy and trauma.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW Chief Executive Officer Professor Tracey O’Brien AM
“Breast cancer affects far too many women in our community and detecting it in its earliest stages is key to saving lives.”
“I know life gets busy, but I urge all women in western Sydney to not delay and book in their breast screen today.”
Quotes attributable to Nirmala Pathmanathan, Director, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute
“I’m so pleased women in the Blacktown community will benefit from this new permanent clinic. We know a screening mammogram can pick up cancers well before you can feel them, so having a mammogram every two years for women should be a priority and part of their routine health checks.”