The Victorian Government announced on Tuesday it would fund the new service, which is set to launch later this year.
The new Shepparton service will be free, and means eligible Victorians in the Goulburn Valley will be able to access further testing closer to home.
“Our clients in the Goulburn Valley currently travel to Melbourne or interstate for further tests following their breast screen,” BreastScreen Victoria chief executive Terri Smith said.
“We’re excited that they will benefit from a great new assessment service closer to home, saving considerable time travelling and more convenience overall.”
For Strathmerton's Marg Smith, 63, this new service is deeply personal.
In July last year, after attending regular breast screenings in Shepparton every two years, she was called back for an appointment at St Vincent's reading and assessment service.
Driving down to Melbourne, she was given an ultrasound and two biopsies during her assessment.
The diagnosis: Marg had two lumps in her breast that had doctors concerned.
“The decision was made to remove them with a lumpectomy,” she said.
Following the surgery in August, Marg was given a three-week course of radiation therapy in Shepparton.
After that, doctors delivered the all-clear, her surgeon is "very positive" there are no more concerning signs or symptoms of breast cancer.
Ask Marg about that month-long period of treatment, and she'll wax lyrical.
“To begin with, I was anxious,” she admitted.
“But the care that was given to me by the entire BreastScreen team was just fantastic.
“They reassured me, I felt so safe and confident with the care I was given.”
Marg praised the announcement Shepparton would soon be home to a new reading and assessment service.
“I think it's great for the women of this region, not just Shepparton but all the outlying areas,” she said.
“Travelling down to Melbourne for the treatment, there can be a cost factor and a time factor - for me, I didn't know my way around Melbourne, so that added more stress.
“Shepparton is a big town of 60,000-plus, this is going to be really beneficial for our female population to have this service readily available.”
This will be the ninth reading and assessment service to open in Victoria.
It's all part of a $7.7 million boost throughout four years for BreastScreen Victoria assessment services.
BreastScreen Victoria provides free two-yearly breast screening for eligible Victorians without symptoms aged 40 and older.
If you are due to screen or have missed an appointment, book by calling 13 20 50 or head to bookings.breastscreen.org.au
