TWO nurses from The Townsville Hospital were in Mount Isa yesterday spreading the word about breast screening.
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A breast screen van will make its way to Mount Isa and surrounds from next month until September, providing plenty of opportunity for women to have a check up.
"It's open to anybody 40 or over, honestly it's just so much easier to have your mammogram because early detection is the key," Indigenous cancer coordinator Leila Murison said.
Ms Murison said the van would be specifically targeting Indigenous women to participate but was open to anybody eligible.
"We've been speaking with a lot of community organisations while we're here and trying to get to those people in Camooweal and Dajarra and those kinds of places to let them know we'll be here."
She said women didn't need to have found a lump in their breast to be checked, as prevention was part of the task too.
"Most women won't go for fear of what can be picked up but if there did happen to be something and you knew early you have a much better chance," Ms Murison said.
BreastScreen Indigenous liaison officer Phillipa Cole said the service's slogan was 'screening for health not screaming for help', which she wanted to project to North West women.
"It's not a scary thing, the van looks good with some artwork, it's not a sterile environment and we'll be in Mount Isa at rodeo time so those women from out of town can pop in and get checked," she said.
The mobile unit will be in Mount Isa from June 3 until August 27, Cloncurry from May 20 until 31, and Julia Creek from September 2 to 5.