Thousands to use breast cancer facility

A NEW breast cancer imaging suite at Frankston Hospital is expected to see around 3000 patients a year by 2032.
The Peta Murphy Breast Imaging Suite was officially opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in February. The facility is named after the former Dunkley MP, who died from breast cancer in December (“Murphy’s memorial at hospital” The Times 5/2/2024).

The first patient was seen at the facility on 2 February. It is projected to host around 2400 mammograms this year, a number Peninsula Health expects to increase to around 3000 in the next eight years. Peninsula Health breast care co-ordinator Rhonda Barnes said that breast cancer diagnosis grew by 17 percent on the Mornington Peninsula between 2015 and 2019, and that the new facility would help detect cases.

“It will make a massive difference to patients on the Mornington Peninsula,” Barnes said. “The service is able to provide mammography and breast imaging services to the Peninsula Health community free of charge. “If we are able to provide care in a timely manner it can alleviate the stress or worries for most patients who receive a diagnosis. In fact, 80 percent of breast cancer patients don’t have any problems in the future.

“We’ve got an excellent team here, and the service is very streamlined. If an abnormality is detected, we can organise breast biopsies within a few days, and if an urgent appointment is required their operation can be completed within two weeks.”

The breast cancer imaging suite is open three days a week. Its hours can be expanded in the future.

First published in the Frankston Times – 2nd April 2024