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| Dr Chee (center) leads the launching of the free breast cancer screening |
Starting June 10, women holding HK identity cards, aged 35 to 74, and are
at risk of breast cancer may avail of free screening at seven clinics across
the city.
High-risk women are those with certain gene mutations or have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. In addition, participants must be asymptomatic, with no previous breast cancer history, and have not had a mammography screening in the past year.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Bookings for the free screening, which marks the second phase of the Department of Health’s breast cancer screening pilot, may be done as early as today, May 30.
Under the pilot program, three non-governmental service providers – Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service, and Haven of Hope Christian Service – run the seven sites where the screening and assessments are done
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Qualified participants may contact any of these designated clinics from today to book their slot starting on June 10.
Those who are confirmed to carry specific genetic mutations will be referred to another facility for additional ultrasound mammograms, which should cost $225 per session under a co-payment scheme set up for the program. However, this fee is currently being waived by the service providers.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
According to Dr Anne Chee, head of the DH Non-Communicable Disease Branch said that this means qualified women will not have to worry about paying out of pocket to avail of the free screening.
The scheme is aimed at enhancing the recovery rate of breast cancer patients through early detection and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong, and the third most deadly.
