There is something powerful about a room full of people who care about each other. A kitchen table, a sports club canteen, a mothers’ group at the park: these are the places where health conversations happen naturally, and where a simple “have you had your check?” can make a real difference. This Pink October, we would love to help the Upper Coomera community turn those everyday gatherings into something that supports breast health.
Doctors @ Coomera Central is at Shop 2, 21 Coomera Grand Drive, Upper Coomera. We are a bulk billing practice, open seven days a week, and you can call us on 07 5638 5315. In this blog we share a few community-minded ideas for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, along with the practical information you need to look after your own breast health.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast invites Australians to gather over breakfast, morning tea, brunch or high tea and raise funds for breast cancer research. NBCF suggests Thursday 22 October, though any day in October works. Entry is free, and hosts receive a host kit to help them get started.
Why does it matter? NBCF reports that it has invested over $250 million into more than 650 research grants since 1994, and that in large part due to research, the breast cancer death rate in Australia has fallen by over 40 per cent. Every cup of tea and every raffle ticket helps fund the next round of research. Whether you gather in a backyard in Upper Coomera, a community hall or the office kitchen, you are part of something bigger.
A breakfast is a wonderful excuse to get everyone in the same place. Once the scones are out, try asking your table three questions:
Make a pact that everyone will follow up on their answers before the month is out. You can book a breast screen without a referral by calling 13 20 50. If someone at the table has noticed a change, a helpful next step is a visit to their GP, because screening is designed for people without symptoms.
One of the nicest things about a mixed-age group is the range of experience in the room. Breast health looks different at different times of life, and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explains that breasts can change with the menstrual cycle, during breastfeeding and through the perimenopausal years, when tenderness can increase as hormone levels shift.
Younger women are not too young to be aware. Cancer Australia notes that a woman can develop breast cancer at any age, regardless of her level of risk. People under 40 are not eligible for BreastScreen Queensland, so knowing your normal and speaking to a GP about any change is especially useful for younger women. Older women, meanwhile, should know that screening remains available after 75 for those who wish to continue.
Doctors @ Coomera Central is proud to be part of MyMedicare, an Australian Government program designed to strengthen your connection with your regular GP and healthcare team and support continuity of care. Registering is free, voluntary and easy. You can register through your Medicare Online Account or the Express Plus Medicare app, or ask our friendly reception team to help you during your next visit.
A regular GP gets to know you over time, which makes conversations about screening, family history and lifestyle feel more natural. It also helps to have someone who can see your health story as a whole rather than one appointment at a time.
Some risk factors for breast cancer, such as age and family history, cannot be changed. Others can be influenced, and Cancer Australia estimates that around a quarter of breast cancers could potentially be prevented through lifestyle and other changes. Being physically active, keeping to a healthy weight range and limiting alcohol are part of that picture.
Why not turn this into a friendly challenge? Set a group step goal for October, walk together after school drop-off, or swap one drink at the next catch-up for a mocktail. Cancer Council Queensland has practical tips for building healthy habits, and doing it with friends makes them much easier to keep. It is also a good chance to remember that most breast cancers occur in women with no family history, so healthy habits and regular screening matter for everyone.
We know that busy weeks make it hard to fit in appointments. That is why we are open seven days a week and why we bulk bill eligible patients. Along with general practice, our clinic offers women’s health resources, a skin clinic, vaccinations and lifestyle medicine, so you can address more than one health goal in a single visit. If you would like to chat about breast health, our doctors, nurses and allied health team are ready to help.
We welcome patients from Upper Coomera, Coomera, Oxenford, Pimpama and the surrounding suburbs of the northern Gold Coast. You can book online at our appointment page or call 07 5638 5315 to speak with reception. Please ask about bulk billing eligibility when you book.
You do not need a big event to make a difference. Text a friend, book a breast screen if you are due, register for MyMedicare, or pull together a breakfast with your neighbours. Every one of these steps supports awareness and encourages the people around you to look after themselves. Visit Doctors @ Coomera Central to book your appointment, and we will see you in Upper Coomera this Pink October.