Breast cancer is the most common cancer among South African women. Early detection through regular screening can both reduce the cost of treatment and save lives. The Keystone Medical Group believes routine mammograms are crucial to the early detection of breast cancer and as part of its mission to ensure safe and healthy communities, the state-of-the-art Mobile Breast Cancer Screening Unit will be heading to Malmesbury from 3 August 2022.
‘Detecting breast cancer early, can reduce the treatment burden and lead to a complete cure. The mobile breast cancer screening unit is the only one of its kind in South Africa, aiming to make mammographic screening and breast ultrasounds accessible to all women, both private and medical aid patients,’ says Radiologist, Dr Nikoli van Zyl.
Van Zyl says the mobile unit has proved very successful in providing women around the country with a safe, out-of-hospital alternative.
‘We have seen a dramatic drop in the number of women going for their annual screenings following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The mobile unit, however, provides a safe environment for women to receive preventative services which they may have postponed due to the pandemic. In 2021 alone, we managed to perform more than 2000 mammograms with the mobile screening unit during our initiatives around the country,’ van Zyl explains.
Van Zyl says since February they have visited towns such as Komatipoort, Malelane, Mbombela, Hazyview, Hoedspruit, Polokwane, Mokopane, Lephalale, Kathu, Upington, Vredenburg and are now headed for Malmesbury as women in these areas ordinarily would have to drive long distances to receive mammographic screenings.
‘We specifically target areas where these screening services are not readily available. We have, therefore, decided to make this mammography service more accessible and we will be visiting various towns in the Western Cape provinces, where both mammography and breast ultrasound studies will be available as part of our continuous fight against breast cancer. Here we will offer world-class breast cancer screening services, performed by highly qualified professional female staff,’ she says.
Van Zyl says annual mammogram is recommended to all women over the age of 40, while a breast ultrasound can be done at any age.
Facts about breast cancer:
• Early detection of the condition can lead to effective treatment and a positive prognosis. The survival rate of breast cancer is over 90% when the cancer is detected at an early stage.
• Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms are key to early detection.
• Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and suffering
The breast cancer screening unit will be stationed in Malmesbury at the NG Kerk Swartland-Noord from 3 – 19 August 2022.
To make an appointment please book online: https://calendly.com/ks-med or WhatsApp us on 061 523 2879.