Breast Checks: Breast Cancer Support and After Care

Welcome to the

Women’s Wellness Hub

Topics on this Page:

Why check my own breasts?

How often should I do a breast check myself?

Is it ok just to get Dr to do a breast check?

Where go to do them in Australia?

What if I am rural?

What to expect when go to get check?


This web page is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health practitioner.

All about Breast Checks

Why check my own breasts?

Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Knowing the look and feel of your own

breasts through regular self-checks helps you to detect any changes. Not all

changes will be cancerous but be vigilant and see your GP for advice if you are

concerned.

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How often should I do a breast check myself?

Monthly is good but sometimes it can be as simple as seeing something on the tele

that reminds you or hearing a conversation and you realise you haven’t checked

your breasts for a while. Maybe a friend has just been diagnosed. Use reminders on

your phone if you would like.

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Is it ok just to get Dr to do a breast check?

The best way to early detection is really to know the look and feel of your own

breasts. Your Dr may never offer a breast check so really it is up to the individual to

know what is normal for them.

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Where go to do them in Australia?

You can ask a GP for a breast examination

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What if I am rural?

Your GP, the visiting women's health nurse.

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What to expect when go to get check?

You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up, including your bra. In a

sitting position you will raise your arms above your head and then possibly be asked

to place your hands on your hips. The GP will be looking for anything that looks

unusual in the shape, size, colour of the breast or nipple.

The GP may then ask you to place your hand on their shoulder and they might feel

under your arm on both sides. This is when they are feeling for your lymph nodes.

You may then be asked to lie down and they may place some gentle pressure on the

breast and feel the tissue.

Some clinicians will feel this in a clockwise pattern and others will sweep the breast.

This may also be done when you are sitting up. Each person that examines a breast

has their own way of examining but this should be done in a private area where the

patient feels comfortable.

You will be asked questions about your breasts at this time as the Drs or nurses are

not familiar with the look and feel of your breasts and may ask if certain features are

"normal" for you. For example, some women have nipple retraction and have had it

all their lives. If this is normal for them a clinician would not be concerned about this,

however if this is a change to one nipple over the past month this would warrant

further investigation.

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What if I find a lump?

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Should I keep notes or photos of changes?

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When Should I askfor a mammogram?

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When do I need to have a mammogram?

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Will is the procedure going into have a mammogram?

-appointment with nurse

- led into the room for check

- machine involved

- imagery

- how quickly get an answer

- what if asked back?

- what is a biopsy and why?

- what will happen after biopsy

- what happens if they detect cancer

-how do I get a gene checkto see if I have the breastcancer gene? etc

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Women's Wellness Hub Directory

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Financial Abuse

Economic Abuse Awareness Day

November 26, 20243 min read

 

Economic and financial abuse is a form of domestic abuse in Australia.

It often occurs in the context of intimate partner violence, and involves the control of a partner or ex-partner’s money and finances, as well as the things that money can buy.

Economic abuse and financial abuse involve similar behaviours, but it can financial abuse is often thought of as a subcategory of economic abuse. Economic abuse encompasses the many ways that an abuser may control someone’s economic situation, including employment, food, basic necessities, medication, transport and housing, for example. Financial abuse can often be thought of as controlling the actual money by stealing, gambling, coercing someone into taking on debt, controlling their allowance each week,

1 in 6 women in the Australia have reportedly experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner.

Economic abuse can include exerting control over income, spending, bank accounts, bills and borrowing. It can also include controlling access to and use of things like transport and technology, which allow a person to work and stay connected, as well as property and daily essentials like food and clothing. It can include destroying items and refusing to contribute to household costs. Gambling away your financial security and destroying your credit rating.

Refusing to pay child support and not financially disclosing assets and debts during financial property settlements are also a way of economically abusing a person and intentionally controlling them.

This type of abuse is a form of coercive and controlling behaviour.   Economic abuse rarely happens in isolation and usually occurs alongside other forms of abuse, including physical, sexual and psychological abuse. 95% of cases of domestic abuse involve economic abuse. It can continue long after a leaving and can have lifelong effects 

This type of abuse is designed to create economic instability and/or make one partner economically dependent, which limits their freedom. Without access to money and the things that money can buy, it is difficult to leave an abuser and access safety. Someone experiencing this type of abuse can become trapped in a relationship with the abuser, unable to resist the abuser’s control and at risk of further harm. In this way, economic safety underpins physical safety.   

The impact of economic abuse makes leaving and rebuilding lives more challenging for survivors and their family. Many victim-survivors leave with large amounts of debt and poor credit ratings, affecting their long-term economic stability.

Red Flag (warnings) of economic/financial abuse

Economic abuse can take many forms. The perpetrator/abuser:

Sabotagesyour income and access to money: 

  • prevent you from being in education or employment  

  • limit your working hours 

  • takesyour pay 

  • refuse to let you claim government payments/ benefitsor take all the benefits

  • take children’s savings or birthday money 

  • refuse to let you access a bank account 

  • making you work in a family business without pay

  • give you a small allowance for necessities only

  • takes any windfall you get such as an inheritance

Restrict how you use money and the things that you own: 

  • control when and how money is spent 

  • dictate what you can buy   

  • make you ask for money

  • give you a small allowance to cover necessities only

  • check your receipts 

  • make you keep a spending diary 

  • make you justify every purchase made 

  • control the use of property, such as a mobile phone or car   

  • insist all economic assets (eg savings, house) are in their name   

  • keepfinancial information secret 

Exploits your economic situation: 

  • steal your money or property 

  • steal your identity or inheritance

  • cause damage to your property 

  • refuse to contribute to household costs   

  • spend money neededforhousehold items and bills 

  • misuse money in joint bank accounts 

  • insist all bills, credit cards and loans are in your name and make you paythem 

  • build up debt in your name, sometimes without your knowledge

  • destroying your credit rating affecting your future financing ability

There is help

If youhaveexperienced economic or financial abuse,you are not alone. There are people and organisations that can help .Refer to www.dvsupporthub.com for information on various services that can help as well as ways to help you financially get back on your feet.

Call 1800RESPECT for immediate assistance

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