Three lifelong school friends are proving they’re ‘breast friends’ – making an annual pilgrimage from Gippsland to Melbourne for important breast health checks every year for the past 25 years.
Moe woman Kathryn Rieniets, Susan Griggs from Warragul, and Jane Williams from Newborough, clocked up their 25th yearly visit to the Epworth Freemasons Breast Clinic on Friday – a ritual prompted after the
death of Kathryn’s mother from breast cancer at just 52.
“My mother had a very aggressive breast cancer and died at the age of 52. She was onto it, she was very vigilant at checking herself even in the late 1980s, but she was getting turned away for her requests for
mammograms down here (in the Latrobe Valley),” Kathryn said.
“In the end she went to her doctor and asked them to take a biopsy of a lump and, of course, it was too late and she died about 18 months later.
“I started visiting the clinic at Epworth Freemasons and a few years later my two best friends decided to start coming with me. Initially it was to support me because I was a bit paranoid about it given the history with my mum, but we’ve made it into a fun trip and we look forward to it so much each year.”
Epworth Freemasons Breast Clinic is Melbourne’s only self-referring breast clinic where patients receive same day answers about their breast health.
Individuals can make appointments without a GP referral.
Kathryn said the clinic made what could be a nerve-racking trip more palatable with imaging and pathology testing all in one place, and not having to attend multiple clinics in regional centres.
“We make this yearly appointment because the clinic makes it so easy. Everything is done in one area so we don’t have to travel to different locations for different tests like in some towns. We know we’re in very
capable hands and all our records in the one place,” Kathryn said.
“We all went to school together so we’re very close friends. We’ve supported each other through life and it’s very comforting to go together to these appointments. We make it a fun experience. We’ve been out for
dinner and a show, we go shopping, catch a movie.
“We’ve never missed a year, even through the pandemic and we always take a photo, every year. That’s just our little ritual.”
According to Australian Breast Cancer Research, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cancer to cause death in women, after lung cancer.
One in seven women and one in 700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Epworth Freemasons Breast Clinic GP Dr Angela Catanzariti said 3000 patients attended the East Melbourne clinic each year for breast health checks, including a significant number from regional Victoria, and even interstate, seeking the very best care and expertise.
“Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women and research has overwhelmingly shown that early detection is crucial to achieving the best health outcomes,” Dr Catanzariti said.
“Being aware of changes in your breasts through regular self-examinations and mammograms can mean the difference between life and death.
“We encourage women to book in for a breast health screening at least every two years, if not annually, to give peace of mind that everything is in check and there is nothing to worry about.”
