• This year the Eastern Health Maroondah Breast and Cancer Centre service celebrates its 30th birthday. • The program is focused on the early detection of breast cancer in clients without symptoms. • The Centre screens 40,000 consumers per year. • Over the past 30 years, the service has offered approximately 930,000 appointments and the team are eagerly anticipating their millionth appointment in 2025.
This year the BreastScreen service celebrates its 30th birthday. Associate Program Director Maroondah BreastScreen, Michelle Giles shares how much the service has changed since its inception three decades ago.
"Maroondah commenced operations at 24 Grey Street in a small weather board house in January 1994. The first consumer was screened by our then Designated Radiographer Liz Sundram. The client list was delivered by a courier on a floppy disc and left under the doormat.
"The service started with film screening before progressing to computer radiography and then full view digital mammography.
"Today, we operate out of a state-of-the-art Breast and Cancer Centre at Eastern Health Maroondah with additional fixed sites.
"Our mobile van, which started in October 1994, continues to serve regional areas," she said.
The program is focused on the early detection of breast cancer in clients without symptoms and the Centre screens 40,000 consumers per year.
Its 30-year journey has been marked by significant technological advancements. One area of focus has been the introduction of new 3D imaging technology.
"Maroondah BreastScreen was the first BreastScreen service in Australia to offer tomosynthesis (3D imaging) in the BreastScreen Assessment setting. This project led to the rollout of tomosynthesis in the BreastScreen assessment setting across Victoria.
"Another area of focus has been providing consumers with information about modifiable breast cancer risk factors like alcohol consumption. This project is a collaboration between Eastern Health Turning Point, Maroondah BreastScreen, and BreastScreen Victoria," Ms Giles said.
Over the past 30 years, the service has offered approximately 930,000 appointments and the team are eagerly anticipating their millionth appointment in 2025.
"Early detection provides clients with a better prognosis, and we strongly encourage women aged between 50 and 74 to screen every two years so any change in their breast tissue can be detected as early as possible."
