New breast cancer unit

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33610, 12 August 1974, Page 6

New breast cancer unit

(N Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 9. An entirely new method of processing X-ray pictures, using an adaptation of the ordinary office photo-copying machine, will be a feature of a new breast cancer unit to open in Auckland next month. Mrs Peare Baker, a Manukau city councillor,

with her husband, Mr Harry Baker, gave $20,000 to set up the unit. The new process, know as Xeroradiography, uses paper instead of film and gives an ' improved image of soft tissue. This will be the first unit to use it in Auckland. The cost of examining each patient is estimated, at $5. Mr and Mrs Baker’s gift, together with research funds set aside by the Cancer Society, will allow this project to continue fcr two J years free of charge to women patients. The two main .objectives are to diagnose breast cancer at an early stage and, from the research side, to assess the value of the most modern diagnostic equipment available.

It is hoped that public support will allow the work to continue free beyond this two-year term. When the service begins next month, Auckland women aged 40 and over will be invited to volunteer for examination. It will be possible to make seven to eight examinations in each halfday session by appointment. The service will be entirely free. To house the new unit, major alterations have been made to the Cancer Society’s offices. Tw,o women radiographers will be employed to run the centre. Two senior radiologists have volunteered to read the X-ray prints free of charge. They have both been to Australia to attend: a workshop course in the I new technique.

The society’s president, Mr H. J. Gaudin, said today that one in every 19 Auckland women was likely to be affected by breast cancer. Mrs Baker said she had always been interested in cancer, as she has had friends and relatives suffering from it. She was a supporter of early diagnosis, which improved the chances of a cure.