World Radiography Day
Today is World Radiography Day and we recognise our dedicated team of radiologists and radiographers working at BreastScreen NSW. Our radiographers screen over 300,000 women in NSW each year, often spending time away on the mobile vans to bring the service to women in remote areas. Melissa shares her experience working as a radiographer in Tamworth.
I am one of five radiographers working for the service in Tamworth. With over 20 years of experience as a radiographer across NSW, a lifestyle change led me to the country and ultimately BreastScreen NSW.
"The most rewarding part of my job is helping clients feel comfortable during their breast screen, especially first-timers."
A typical screening day starts with performing quality control checks on the mammography equipment and making sure rooms are clean and well-stocked. But no two days are ever the same! There’s much more to working at the service than just screening mammograms. For instance, we hold assessment clinics once a week to recall patients for further imaging. We work closely with ultrasound specialists and the radiologist. Most follow-up images are normal, though occasionally, a biopsy is recommended. We're there to support clients through each part of this process.
Most clients find the compression with a mammogram uncomfortable for just 10 seconds, but many are surprised at how quick and manageable the process is. If you had an unpleasant experience in the past, please don’t let it discourage you from coming again. Not only does technology change over time, but staff change too.
The most rewarding part of my job is helping clients feel comfortable during their breast screen, especially first-timers. With reassurance and compassion, I often hear clients say afterward, "Well, that was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be." They leave with a positive experience and no hesitation about returning for their next screening mammogram."
Some of the moments that stand out to me are when clients are genuinely grateful and happy after their mammogram—it’s always pleasantly surprising to me. Working with such friendly, kind, and genuine colleagues also makes BreastScreen NSW a wonderful place to be.
The biggest thing I've learned in this job is that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate; it can affect anyone. My message to women is that a breast screen is a very quick test that could save your life. Almost all breast cancers found at an early stage can be treated successfully.
