Art Your Bra competition helps highlight importance of breast screening

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

ScreenSouth in Christchurch went all out to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and highlight the BreastScreen Aotearoa national breast screening programme.

A pink-themed morning tea and fancy dress event was topped off with the Art Your Bra competition, shining a light on some of the team's creative talents.

The cleverly designed bras - which were given names like Treasure Your Chest, Candleabra, and Spooky Boobs - transformed the Papanui Rd office into a gallery of stunning bra art.

Jennie Corrin’s Succulent Breasts - a creation using straw cups, real succulent plants and a hint of Halloween - took out the top 3-D prize, while Jayne Swainson's Iridescent Intimates - an intricately hand drawn and coloured design - won the 2-D category.

Corrin, who works in the call centre team, talks with women to let them know about the free national breast screening programme, help them to enrol in the programme and arrange a mammogram appointment time.

Swainson works with general practice teams across Christchurch to help them invite eligible women to book their three-yearly cervical screen.

More than 650 women die of breast cancer in Aotearoa each year.

“Our team want to raise awareness about the most common cancer for women in Aotearoa” ScreenSouth general manager Louise McCarthy said.

“We especially want to highlight that every year over 400 wāhine Māori are diagnosed with breast cancer and early detection through screening
mammograms offers the best protection”.

Women aged 45 to 69 years can call 0800 270 200 or visit timetoscreen.nz/breast-screening to book a mammogram.

ScreenSouth, based in Waitaha/Canterbury, is contracted by Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand for the provision of breast screening services in the Te Waipounamu/South Island region, cervical screening regional coordination in the Waitaha/Canterbury and South Canterbury regions and bowel screening outreach in Waitaha.

Photo: Peter Meecham/Stuff