Teamwork praised for screenings

Rebecca Gilbert, Megan Kilpatrick, Sue Cresswell, Karen Brown, Shirley Dinn, Tiffany McCarrison and Belinda Beehre.

Eight years ago, just 30 per cent of eligible women in the Whangarei suburb of Otangarei went for breast screenings.

Today that figure is more than the national target of 70 per cent, thanks to some hard-working women at the Mauri Ora Breast Clinic and in the community. For every 300 women screened, 10 will be recalled for further tests, and two will have cancer.

Sue Cresswell, Lisa Norris and Amie Pouley at the breakfast.

To say thank you for the team's work, the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation put on breakfast for more than 20 staff at the clinic yesterday, as part of the Pink Ribbon Breakfast awareness campaign this month.

Donations go towards areas such as research and tracking patient treatment.

The close-knit team includes everyone from the receptionists, through to the nurses, radiographers, pathologists and community workers, all of whom contribute to making getting a mammogram not such a daunting experience.

Karen Brown models an impressive crepe paper creation with Lynda King.

Miriama Reihana, of Te Hauawhiowhio o Otangarei Trust Health Centre, said the work she did in her community was "a passion".

She has worked for the organisation for a decade and said living in the community and knowing everyone really helped people feel more comfortable about taking steps to improve their health.

Murray Pachal, Anthea Wild, Kim Shepherd and Barbara Miller.

"I stop the women at the shops, I say 'by the way, you need this and this to be done ... I'm hanging out on the corners, I know each and every woman, and I'm ready to pounce," she said.

She spoke from personal experience, too.

"I've had two biopsies here ... I've been treated well here."

Ms Reihana said fear of the unknown was often what kept women from going for a mammogram and for subsequent follow-up appointments.

Miriama Reihana and Rebecca Gilbert who liaises with GPs

All women become eligible for free breast screening when they turn 45.

Two mobile screening units in Northland also help reach women in more remote areas, making stops at least every two years.