Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson) and Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts) have shared the screen together on Home and Away for more than two decades, and off screen, their friendship is just as strong.
The two iconic Summer Bay residents have teamed up for BreastScreen Australia’s campaign as ‘breast friends’ to encourage women to have regular breast screenings, because “early detection saves lives,” says Ada.
While the subject matter may be serious, the breast friends delivered the message in a light-hearted way, sharing details about their favourite celebrity boobs, as well as intimate personal stories around their own mammogram experiences and breast lump scares, to bring the subject of breast health and care to the forefront.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are – you need to check your breasts,” says Lynne. If you’re 50-74, you also need to attend breast screening every two years, even if you have no family history because, as Lynne says, “only one in 10 women who have breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.”
Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson) and Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts) have worked together and been friends for more than 20 years.
Lynne is right, and one of the most effective ways to treat breast cancer is by detecting it early, before you may even notice any symptoms at all. Australia’s national breast screening program, BreastScreen Australia provides free mammograms for women over 40 and actively invites women 50 – 74 to book a screening every two years. BreastScreen Australia is encouraging women due for a mammogram to call 13 20 50 or visit their website to book a free appointment at one of the 750 locations around Australia.
Here are some of the most important breast care facts:
• One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Of these, only 1 in 10 women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
• Age is the biggest risk factor. Around 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50.
• The best way to find breast cancer is to have regular breast screenings.
• Early detection saves lives. If found early, breast cancer is easier to treat and there’s an increased chance of survival.
• Aged between 50 and 74? It’s time for your free screening. Regular mammograms can detect very small breast cancers before they can be seen or felt.
• Breast screenings are recommended every two years for women aged 50-74.
• All BreastScreen radiographers are female.
• Just 20 minutes every two years could save your life.
Brought to you by BreastScreen Australia – a joint Australian, State and Territory Government Program. If you’re due, book an appointment by calling 13 20 50, or through their website here.
