Petition calls for mammography equipment

A Broome grandmother is taking her fight for potentially life-saving breast cancer equipment in the Kimberley to State Parliament.

Annemarie Reynolds, 56, is circulating petitions requesting a permanent mammography facility in Broome, with Kimberley MP Josie Farrer agreeing to table it in State Parliament next year.

Health bosses say the region does not have enough eligible women to qualify for a permanent facility, forcing them to wait for a mobile screening service which visits the region once every two years.

The BreastScreen mobile screening unit travels through the Kimberley, Pilbara and Midwest over the course of five to six months every two years, with visits to Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra and Newman.

BreastScreen WA said it would increase its services to an annual 10-week visit to Broome next year, however those who miss the bus will need to fly two and a half hours to Perth for a screening.

With a family history of breast cancer, Mrs Reynolds has been faced with the "fearful and agonisingly long" flight to Broome to determine whether or not she has the life-threatening disease.

"Cancer strikes at any time and it is very daunting to be in a situation where you find a lump and have to leave your family behind and travel to Perth," she said.

"Getting a facility here in Broome is hope for many. I am running this petition in order to open up the same opportunities to the Kimberley as our southern counterparts.

"I don't see why we should miss out."

The only town in WA with a fixed screening service outside of the metropolitan area is Bunbury, where more than 3000 women over the age of 50 are screened each year.

This is the minimum number required for the provision of a fixed screening service under the BreastScreen Australia national accreditation.

Ms Farrer has backed Mrs Reynolds' petitions, saying women in remote areas should have access to the same standard of breast cancer care as their metropolitan counterparts.

"I wholeheartedly support this petition to the Legislative Assembly for a permanent facility for mammograms for women in the Kimberley," Ms Farrer said.

"Women in remote Australia should have access to breast cancer care of the same standard as that available to women living in cities."

Shire of Broome president Graeme Campbell said the council was supportive of increased breast cancer services, with the petition available to sign at the Shire's Weld Street office.

"While the Shire doesn't have a formal position on the issue, it is supportive of increased services," he said.

"The incidence of breast cancer is pretty high and anything that can be done to alleviate or detect it earlier is certainly a very worthwhile cause."

A copy of the State Government petition and another to the Federal Government can be signed in many businesses around town or online at www.care2.com before the February 15 deadline.