Extension of Age Range for Publicly Funded Mammography

Grey Power applauds the decision by the Minister of Health the Hon Annette King M P., to extend the age range for publicly funded mammography to cover women in the 45 to 70 year age bracket.

This is an improvement in coverage that Grey Power has been advocating for some years and we are pleased that our numerous approaches to the Minister have been effective. It will prove beneficial to many of our members who, hitherto, have been neglected because of the age barriers.

A mere 62% of the 50-64 years age group women have so far accessed the BreastScreen Aoteroroa programme. We hope that with this extended age range a greater percentage of those women that are eligible to participate will do so. The further adjustment of the age range to include 40 – 44 year old women should be encouraged.

The Minister is to be congratulated for her success in instituting the training of additional radiation therapists; these people now emerging fully trained, to assist the fight against this dreadful disease and alleviate some of the suffering caused by it.

With the anticipated extra radiation therapists aiding the staffing of the cancer treatment clinics we share the Ministers expectations that the waiting time for treatment will be considerably reduced. It is our fervent wish that this is achieved in the near future.

Grey Power would remind the Minister of the need to further consider the raising and benefits resulting, of a similar screening programme for prostate cancer in men.

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