Kerri-Anne Kennerley's Breast Cancer has prompted a surge

KERRI-ANNE Kennerley's shock diagnosis of breast cancer has prompted a surge in mammography bookings at Breast Screen SA.

Since Tuesday, the service has taken more than 620 bookings when they would normally expect about 400 after a weekend in June.

"That's about 200 extra women that we'll be screening, which is fantastic," Breast Screen SA acting general manager Evelyn Catt said. "It's a great outcome from a sad situation and because of our digital mammography unit we can get them all in and have them screened quickly."

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting South Australian women with one in 10 developing breast cancer by the age of 75.

Cancer Council SA general manager of cancer control Jacquie Bowden said Kennerley, right, was close to the age at which most women are first diagnosed. "What's important about Kerri-Anne's diagnosis is that it was sparked by an awareness of her own breasts and she went to see her doctor as soon as she noticed something unusual," Ms Bowden said.

"Early detection of any cancer can make a significant difference to increasing your chances of survival, so being `breast aware' and having a mammogram every two years when you are between 50-69 years of age will give you the best possible chance of catching breast cancer early."At Cancer Council, we suggest that all women should be aware of changes in their breasts and see a doctor if they feel any changes.

"Being told you have cancer can be a stressful and difficult time, however we hope that the recent surge in women who are now breast screening as a result of Kerri-Anne's diagnosis has given her and her family some comfort."

Over 13,500 Australian women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, including 1121 new cases in SA.

In 2005, the Medical Journal of Australia published an article about the impact of news of celebrity illness on breast cancer screening following Kylie Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis.

There was a 40 per cent increase in average weekly screening bookings made during two weeks of publicity in four Australian states.

The increase was most prominent in women being screened for the first time.

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