Jodi had her first mammogram when she was 43. Her second mammogram, at age 47, was the one that detected her cancer.
14 October 2022
In August of 2020, Jodi Shepherd was diagnosed with an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.
‘I was very calm after the diagnoses. I was thankful that the clinicians who looked at my original mammogram detected the lump as I had no idea it was there. I wasn’t fearful.’
Jodi, who has no family history of breast cancer, had her first mammogram when she was 43. Her second mammogram, at age 47, was the one that detected her cancer.
‘During my treatment, I was very pragmatic and practical. I drove myself to my treatment every day at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre – the staff made me feel so comfortable and cared for. I can’t thank them enough.’
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Jodi – and BreastScreen ACT – are encouraging everyone aged 40+ to have a mammogram.
‘Even if you don’t have a family history of cancer, I would encourage you to get a mammogram. It’s a few minutes of discomfort, but the technicians are so talented, you’re in and out in a short period of time,’ explains Jodi.
BreastScreen ACT provides free mammograms to anyone over the age of 40 at their clinics in Phillip, Belconnen and the City. The service has recently welcomed the delivery of a brand new, state-of-the-art mammography machine at the Phillip Health Centre; the first of several to be added to BreastScreen ACT services over the coming months.
‘The new machine provides higher quality images and a more comfortable experience for patients while providing a better workflow for our radiographers’ said radiographer Tina (pictured left).
‘It also works much quicker than the old machines. It takes less than four seconds for the films to be taken.’
The machines boast the ability to use curved paddles (that the breast lays in between) which makes the screening experience a lot more comfortable. The rollout of the new machines is part of the gradual replacement of ageing mammography machines at CHS community health facilities.
To book your mammogram today, call 13 20 50.
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