Resource kit helps women with intellectual disability be breast aware

A new education tool to help women with an intellectual disability make informed decisions about their breast health was launched today by BreastScreen Queensland Brisbane Northside Service.

The Wise Women: Your guide to having a breastscreen resource kit was developed for women with an intellectual or learning disability and their family, friends and carers.

The project was funded by the Metro North Hospital and Health Service, and developed in collaboration with women with an intellectual disability and disability support agencies.

Medical Director of Breastscreen Queensland Brisbane Northside Service, Dr Jane Brazier, said women with an intellectual disability are a vulnerable group in terms of their health and access to health care.

“They are more likely to have poorer health than the general community and, due to a variety of physical, mental, literacy and social issues, are less likely to take part in organised health screening programs,” Dr Brazier said.

“They should have access to breast cancer screening on the same basis as other women and we hope this resource kit will help them to make more informed decisions about their breast health.”

The resource kit contains an illustrated book, brochures and ‘Be Breast Aware’ posters.

Dr Brazier said research indicates that the uptake of breast cancer screening in women with an intellectual disability in Australia is significantly lower than in the general population.

“We hope that by using this resource kit, women with an intellectual disability better understand what’s involved in having a mammogram and why it is important to have regular breastscreens,” she said.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, with around one in eight developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

“A breastscreen is the most effective way to detect breast cancer in its early stages.”

The Wise Women resource kit has been sent to 50 disability services in the Metro North catchment.

The project was funded through Metro North Hospital and Health Service’s Support Explore Excel and Deliver (SEED) program, which aims to find new and improved ways of delivering health services for the benefits of patients.

Queensland Health’s BreastScreen Queensland Program provides free high quality breast cancer screening for women aged 40 years and over. Women aged 50 to 74 years are strongly recommended to attend for a breastscreen every two years.

To book an appointment for a BreastScreen, contact 13 20 50.