In three years, Sallie Zilko and the women of Crookwell have raised more than $13,300 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
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On Saturday February 3, 103 women attended the Girls’ Big Night in at the Crookwell Golf Club, raising $5314.
The NBCF projects aim to improve early detection, treatments and quality of life for breast cancer patients. “Research is our first line of defence,” Ms Zilko said.
“It’s only a drop in the ocean, but if every little town had a drop in the ocean, it would be much bigger.”
In 1983, the five-year life expectancy diagnosis was 72 percent; now it is 91 percent. When Ms Zilko was 35, her mother was diagnosed, aged 62. Every two years she paid for a mammogram until she was able to receive them for free.
“We’re offered free mammograms for everyone over 40, every two years. It takes five minutes to have, 15 minutes to organise, and 30 minutes to get one,” Ms Zilko said. “It’s less than an hour every two years.”
The evening was attended by Member for Goulburn, Pru Goward and doctor Heidi Ehmann.
Dr Ehmann held a question-and-answer session of the facts of breast, cervical and ovarian cancer.
“The big message is that we all need to take care of our health… one in eight ladies will have a breast cancer diagnosis before the age of 85,” Ms Zilko said.
“Men can also get breast cancer, around 150 cases every year; and men are also one in eight to get prostate cancer before the age of 85.
“So take care of the men in your life.”