Disturbing statistics have emerged from recent BreastScreen NSW research that suggests around 50 women in the Canterbury area have undiagnosed breast cancer because they haven’t had a mammogram. The Lantern Club Shines Pink! campaign is committed to helping as many women as possible seek the testing and treatment they need during breast cancer month in the Roselands area. Last year, with the help of many generous members, we raised $100,000 for the BreastScreen NSW facility in Campsie that helped build Australia’s first sensory suite, designed to help women overcome the fear and anxiety associated with having a mammogram.
All the money raised from this year’s fundraising efforts will go towards hiring a full-time Community Engagement Officer. Their role will be to promote the BreastScreen NSW Campsie facility to increase the percentage of women in the Roselands, Canterbury and surrounding areas booking for mammograms, especially those from communities where attendance figures are especially low.
In 1986 the survival rate (lived at least five years after the initial diagnosis) for breast cancer was 72.2%, but that has since risen to 90% today. While the figures are clearly improving, the ultimate goal is to ‘find the Canterbury 50’ and get them the treatment they need before it’s too late.
Which communities are avoiding the BreastScreen NSW program?
The Roselands and surrounding areas are an incredibly multicultural and diverse community, with many countries and cultures represented from all around the world. As such there are a high percentage of women from non-English speaking backgrounds, and it is this group who are less likely to attend any sort of breast screening service.
The soon-to-be-appointed Community Engagement Officer will engage with the Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Greek and other identified communities to break down the walls of uncertainty and communicate how important it is for women to have a mammogram for their own health and wellbeing. This is why it is so important our fundraising efforts through the Lantern Club Shines Pink! campaign are successful during breast cancer month in Roselands.
What breast cancer month events are happening?
Lantern Club will be hosting a number of fundraising events during October to raise much needed funds to support breast cancer awareness and ‘find the Canterbury 50’. These include:
- Pink! Fundraiser Dinner – Hosted by two-time Gold Logie Winner Denise Drysdale, this is the campaign’s major fundraiser. It’s a night of spectacular food, drink, and entertainment, along with the chance to buy from the live auction all in the name of an incredible cause.
- Pink! Bingo – Enjoy a pink cupcake, win some prizes and support breast cancer awareness month in Roselands on October 3.
- Pink! Bowls Day – Sunday, October 9
- Pink! Bocce Day – Wednesday, October 19
- Pink! Stumps Day – Saturday, October 22
- Pink! Swim Day – Sunday, October 30
- Party in Pink! Melbourne Cup Finale – Get dressed up in your best outfit and enjoy the ‘Race That Stops The Nation’ on the first Tuesday of October with fine food and drinks, and a flutter on the thoroughbreds.
The best way to support breast cancer awareness month in Roselands
If you or anyone you know is over 50, make sure you book a mammogram appointment at the BreastScreen NSW facility in Campsie. Early detection is the best way to save lives, and you never know, that life could be your own.
- Where to book your mammogram: BreastScreen NSW – Level 1 Campsie Centre, 12-28 Amy Street, Campsie.
- How to book your mammogram: Call 132 050 for an appointment or 131 450 for an interpreter service.
Once that box has been ticked, we’d love to see you at one or more of our Lantern Club Shines Pink! events during October. As a Club, our vision is to make a significant contribution to the quality of community life in our area, and with your attendance at these events, we believe we’re well on the way to continually make that ambition a reality.
© Lantern Club, Roselands