A “Mammobus” with equipment to screen for breast cancer has seen more ladies getting screened for the very first time.
The number of ladies being evaluated for the very first time rose from 925 in 2017 to nearly 2,000 last year, after the Community Mammobus programme was launched in January in 2015.
The National Healthcare Group Diagnostics (NHGD), Breast Cancer Foundation and Singapore Cancer Society, which worked together on the programme, said more women are choosing screenings, as they are now “more accessible and budget-friendly”.
They have actually extended the programme by one year and it will now end next January.
NHGD said that from January in 2015 to February this year, the bus was deployed 167 times.
The other day, the bus went to Punggol 21 Community Club, where more than 40 females signed up to get screened, out of which about 30 were doing it for the first time.
The screening in the bus is totally free for Singaporeans doing it for the very first time. Those who have been evaluated previously, consisting of at polyclinics, pay $10 each.
There is no difference between how breast screening is brought out in the bus and in polyclinics.
Screenings in polyclinics cost about $50 each for Singaporeans regardless of whether it is their first time being evaluated.
The Mammobus programme is also available to long-term residents and immigrants, though they will be charged more.
Results will be sent by mail to individuals within about three weeks.
There have to do with 1,930 freshly detected cases of breast cancer each year, and about 420 deaths, according to an annual report by the Singapore Cancer Registry in 2015.
NHGD executive director Lim Soh Har stated: “Through this tripartite effort, we have effectively connected to more ladies, particularly those who are evaluating for the very first time … Such screenings support the Ministry of Healths objective of positioning more emphasis on health rather of healthcare.”
Companies and community clubs can arrange for the bus to check out at no expense, to get their staff members and locals screened.
Punggol resident Kim Tey, 47, who was screened for the very first time, stated she did incline getting examined considering that it was complimentary.
A housewife who wished to be known just as Ms Khong, 46, was evaluated at a polyclinic about two years ago but chose to do it once again considering that she likewise lives close by.
She stated: “I feel its essential to do (regular) checks. Youll feel safe if you know you do not have any problems, and even if you do, you can opt for early treatment.”

This content was initially published here.