Angela Witcher, a cancer survivor from Tasmania, has launched a petition urging the reinstatement of the BreastScreen Mobile Screening Unit, known as Luna, which has been out of service since May 2023 due to water damage. This service, which provided essential breast screening for women in rural areas, is critical for early detection of breast cancer, a cause deeply personal to Witcher after her own battle with the disease.
In 2017, Witcher faced a life-changing experience when she lost her best friend to cancer. Just four weeks later, she received alarming news during a routine breast scan—results indicated the presence of a tiny but aggressive cancer. Following a lumpectomy and a course of radiotherapy, Witcher credits her survival to the early detection of her condition. “The only reason I’m still here is because it was caught so early,” she stated, reflecting on her journey.
Community Outcry for Accessible Screening
Since her recovery, Witcher has relied on the Luna unit for annual screenings in Scottsdale. The service, which offered women in regional North East Tasmania free breast screening from a fully equipped bus, has not been operational for several months. Witcher expressed her frustration over the lack of communication regarding the bus’s absence, saying, “It made me really angry that it was stopped with no thought, or no real communication—no options were offered for alternatives.”
Understanding the importance of early detection, Witcher initiated a petition on September 8, 2023, to advocate for the return of this vital service. With nearly 1,000 signatures gathered, the petition has received broad support from both men and women across the country. “A lot of people just can’t travel; it can be an hour or two to get to Launceston—and they’re the women who wait,” Witcher noted. “Unfortunately, that’s when things happen, and that can be the difference between life and death.”
Government Response and Future Plans
In early September, Bridget Archer, Tasmania’s Minister for Health, announced that the bus is expected to be back on the road within 12 months. Archer explained that the delay is due to limited availability for the fit-out of Mobile Screening Units throughout the country. Witcher criticized this timeline, stating, “It’s not fair to play with people’s lives. It makes me even angrier.”
Archer also mentioned that patient travel assistance and transport options will be provided for women needing to attend breast screening appointments. In early October, a free charter bus from the East Coast to Hobart will be available, with more services planned as needed. Additionally, the government is advancing the establishment of new permanent BreastScreen clinics in Kingborough, Devonport, Triabunna, and Glenorchy, as well as increasing appointment availability in Launceston, Rosny Park, and Hobart.
Witcher remains determined to push for improvements in breast screening access. “If that’s a job I have to take on, I’ll find a way,” she asserted, emphasizing the need for accountability in health services. As she continues her advocacy, the community watches closely to see how quickly the situation evolves and whether adequate measures will be implemented to ensure the health and safety of women in rural Tasmania.
