Cancer can be a scary topic to talk about, in some communities it’s not talked about at all and there is little understanding about early detection and cancer screening programs.

Women from the Bhutanese Community have learned about breast cancerscreening through educations sessions organised by BreastScreen SA and the City of Salisbury Cultural Programs. Our first education sessions were in 2012 and every few years we repeat these sessions and more women from the community get to learn about the screening program. In the early years, over 60 women attended their appointments, following the education session, with most women coming back to have their screening every two years. Many of the women now make their own appointments and attend the clinic on their own, whilst others still enjoy coming together as part of a group screening day.

I work as an interpreter and know that BreastScreen SA provide female interpreters to help women with filling out forms, asking questions and providing information about the test. BreastScreen also have translated resources to help women understand the process of having their breast screen.

We are not as afraid of cancer as we were before. Women from our community feel supported and we know that the female staff at BreastScreen SA are sensitive and do all they can to make the us feel reassured. We know that if breast cancer is found early that there is good treatments available.

We want our mothers and grandmothers to be living healthy, long lives to watch their children and grandchildren grow up.