Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:46): I rise today to speak about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which occurs every year during October. It provides us with an opportunity to focus on the impact of this disease and on those affected by it in our communities. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women aside from non-melanoma skin cancer. It is the most common cancer experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and is the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Research shows that survival of this disease is lower in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women than for the rest of the population.

We all know someone affected by cancer, be it a friend, a family member or a colleague. A breast cancer diagnosis and treatment not only affects one's body but also one's mental health. Emotional distress such as anxiety and depression has been increasingly associated with disease outcomes, as well as a patient's quality of life. A diagnosis is a critical event with a potentially traumatic nature that is complex to navigate, particularly for those women who are diagnosed under the age of 50.

This October, the Breast Cancer Network of Australia is commemorating Breast Cancer Month by shining a light on the connections between us, and recognising the community that supports those affected by breast cancer. The chosen theme this year is 'connection and community'. Community plays an important role in uplifting those who are navigating a diagnosis. Their support can be a major influence on the mental health of those impacted by cancer and their families. Everyone should have access to the support they need from community, peers and healthcare providers, whether they are a woman in metropolitan Adelaide or a woman in rural South Australia.

I am in awe of women who navigate the minefield of a cancer diagnosis with dignity and strength and my thoughts are with those who do not have the support networks in the country, and those in rural areas who have limited access to breast screening programs. Early detection of breast cancer provides the best chance for effective treatment. Knowing what to be on the lookout for is essential. However, there is often a cult of silence around women's health issues, from fertility to sexual health to menstrual issues to menopause and diseases such as breast cancer.

To know the early warning signs, we must communicate and destigmatise discussions about women's health care. Having interacted with women from all different communities in South Australia, I can tell you that there are women who report emotional barriers to screenings, or face greater challenges in understanding health information well enough to know what to do or what to look for.

The Australian Red Cross, in collaboration with the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health and funded by the Australian government, is delivering the Screening Saves Lives program aimed at improving migrant and refugee communities' participation in breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening through the delivery of health education sessions and community engagement activities.

It is not all bad news. It is encouraging that survival rates continue to improve in Australia: 89 out of every 100 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer now survive five or more years beyond diagnosis. I would take this opportunity to encourage all women to reach out to their GP or any other health professional to talk about prevention, screening and resources that may be available in their native language.

Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to an end this week, it is important to keep the conversation going in order to address disparities, improve the lives of people affected and minimise breast cancer's impact.