News
New McGrath Breast Care Nurses encourage West Australians to be breast aware
Sep 30, 2021
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, McGrath Foundation and Ramsay Health Care are thrilled to announce the addition of two new McGrath Breast Care Nurses, offering free supportive care for Hollywood Private Hospital patients.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses Dawn Johnson and Paula Melville are based at Hollywood Private Hospital, providing important psychosocial, physical and emotional support to families experiencing breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Western Australian women1 and with one in seven women in Australia diagnosed before the age of 852 there is an increasing need for specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses to support people impacted by the disease.
Ms Johnson and Ms Melville are passionate about promoting good breast health understanding, to aid in early detection.
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we want to take this time to encourage our local communities to become breast aware. This means being familiar with your breasts, so you can recognise any changes or breast cancer warning signs,” Ms Johnson said.
Ms Johnson and Ms Melville are encouraging everyone to follow this simple process, developed by McGrath Breast Care Nurses, and to repeat it once a month, at the same time each month.
“The more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something has changed,” Ms Melville said.
- Look - at the shape and appearance of your breasts and nipples in the mirror with your hands by your sides. Raise your arms above your head and have another look.
- Feel – all of your breasts and nipples, looking for anything that isn’t normal for you. Feel from your collarbone to below the bra-line and under your armpit too.
- Learn – what is normal for you. Breasts come in all different shapes and sizes, so get to know your normal. See your doctor if you notice any changes.
Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, like the first or last day of the month.
“Early detection of breast cancer while it is still small and confined to the breast provides the best chance for treatment to be effective. It’s so important that if you find a lump or notice any changes to your breasts that you seek medical attention straight away,” Ms Melville said.
Based at Hollywood Private Hospital, Ms Johnson and Ms Melville are available to help patients experiencing breast cancer, free of charge.
The role of a specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurse is to support patients through diagnosis and treatment, including early and metastatic breast cancers.
For more information on breast health understanding visit: mcgrathfoundation.com.au/breastawareness
To find your nearest McGrath Breast Care Nurse, visit: mcgrathfoundation.com.au/get-support/find-a-nurse
[1] Government of Western Australia Department of Health, 2020, Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival in Western Australia, 2017, accessed 1 August 2021 ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general-documents/WA-Cancer-Registry/Recent-reports/Incidence-Mortality-and-Survival-2017.pdf
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Cancer data in Australia. Cat. no. CAN 122. Canberra: AIHW. Accessed June 2021; www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia
McGrath Breast Care Nurses Dawn Johnson and Paula Melville.