The breast approach possible
Breasts are the talk of the town as a pink caravan rolls through Palmerston North to promote breast care awareness.
The pink caravan parked up in Highbury on Friday as part of a Breast Cancer Foundation campaign to increase education about breast cancer and what people can check for.
Breastcare nurse Trish Sole said many people don’t know where to go to for advice about breast cancer.
Some people living with cancer patients don’t know where to go for support or where to get help from after a death.
The pink caravan was a way to fill the gaps in the public’s knowledge.
It travels the country and the Breastcare nurses offer breast health tips and information on the signs to watch for, family risk, and the importance of mammograms.
‘‘Our key aim is to teach breast awareness.’’
Breastcare nurse Gillian Mockford said the caravan had travelled from Bluff to Gore, Christchurch to Gisborne and more.
‘‘There are lots of areas in New Zealand that don’t have access to specialist breast care services.’’
One of the caravan’s attractions is Bessie, a life-like torso which has lumps, bumps and other signs of breast cancer which people may not know to look for.
Sole said about eight out of 10 women don’t know about the signs of breast cancer other than a lump.
Taking the information directly to the public was a way to engage with people and educate them about their own health.
About 120 people in the Midcentral District Health Board area were diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and about 20 died from the disease each year.
Blood pressure services, cervical screening, breast screening and problem gambling groups also took part in the awareness day in Highbury.
Kathleen Holloway-smith, from Best Care (Whakapai Hauora), said it was great to offer free services in the Highbury area to give people without direct transport access to information.
The caravan also visited Levin on Thursday. It will be back in Palmerston North visiting businesses on October 26 and October 27.