Breast Screening in Whitianga and the Coromandel Peninsula

Whitianga Mobile Breast screening clinic 2022 

The mobile service is currently in Whitianga, located in the Lee Street carpark. Appointments can be made via the free phone number. The service will be in Whitianga until early June. It is heavily booked, but please call 0800 270 200.  You may be waitlisted and called should there be any cancellations If you are unable to secure an appointment, then you will be able  to visit the new Thames site.

Breast Screening Site in Thames

A new site will be open  in Thames mid-May to support and improve breast screening services for the Thames Coromandel District. Thames residents and those in the district will have the choice of screening at the site located in the Te Korowai o Hauraki building in Richmond Street, Thames. Breast screening will be provided year-round for Thames residents and any woman in the district who may wish to have their mammogram here, who may not have been able to screen during a mobile visit to their town, or who may be visiting Thames on business.  Some drop-in appointments will be available.
 
This extra option is a positive step to help improve access to screening services in the district.

What is a Mammogram?

Mammograms are breast x-rays; they can help detect changes in breast tissue before anything can be seen or felt.  

Who is eligible for breast screening? 

Women aged between 45 and 69 can access a free screening mammogram every two years if :

• You have no signs of breast cancer
• You have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months
• You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• You are eligible for public health services in New Zealand.

To enrol and book an appointment, contact BreastScreen Aotearoa on their freephone 0800 270 200.  You can also enrol with your doctor/practice nurse or online.

Is breast screening worth it? 

Women can choose whether or not to join the breast screening programme.  Some of the benefits are:

• Having a regular mammogram can reduce your risk of dying of breast cancer by more than a third
• It helps find cancer early, often before anything can be physically felt. You are more likely to survive breast cancer when found early and small
• If found early can mean that you need less treatment
• Mammograms can find between 8/9 out of 10 cancers.  It is still important to look for changes to your breasts between mammograms and talk to your doctor immediately about these.
• It’s free and you’ll get a reminder every two years.

For more information about breast screening on the Coromandel

Contact Breastscreen Aotearoa or freephone 0800 270200.