Well women's cancer screening program

• Reach:

  NT

• Focus area:

  Mainstream with Indigenous content

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Well women's cancer screening program (previously the Women's cancer prevention program) was established in 1994 to implement the National cervical screening program and BreastScreen Australia in the Northern Territory. The program has adopted a holistic approach to women's cancer screening, which incorporates the cervical and breast screening programs into a 'Well women's' screening model. This model is particularly appropriate for the needs of Aboriginal women in the NT, who were identified as the major target group for the National cervical screening program.

Services offered under the Well women's cancer screening program include:

• free breast screening by BreastScreen NT for asymptomatic women over 50 years
  • screening centres are located in Darwin and Alice Springs, and a visiting service travels to Tennant Creek, Katherine annually and Nhulunbuy (Gove) biennially
• a Territory pap smear register to aid in the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer
• a remote areas program servicing remote area women and providing breast examinations
• pap smear screening in a culturally appropriate manner.

Abstract adapted from the Northern Territory Department of Health and Families

Contacts

Well Women's cancer screening program
Department of Health and Families, Northern Territory
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
Ph: (08) 8922 6449
Fax: (08) 8922 6440

Links

• View information: National cervical screening program
• View information: Well women's cancer screening program
• View website: Northern Territory Department of Health and Families