No breast screening in 2020

More than 1000 women in remote NT regions rely on a free mobile mammogram truck, known as Millie, for breast screening but have been unable to access the service since last year because it's undergoing delayed upgrades interstate.

Health minister Natasha Fyles has previously said she is working to have the truck ready this year, but today confirmed the breast screening service will not resume until 2021.

"It is expected back in Northern Territory late December, early January and services will be confirmed and rolled out in Katherine after this date," she said.

"The NT Health department will continue to keep the community up-to-date on the delivery of local services in the new year."

In November Ms Fyles said she anticipated the service would return some time this year.

"I have been working to ensure residents in Katherine and surrounding communities have access to breast screening services in Katherine before the end of this year," she said at the time.

If the mammogram truck is available in January, this would be an improvement on original estimates from NT Health which suggested the service would not return until July 2021.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women.

NT Health authorities are advising Katherine women to travel to Darwin for a breast check.

Early detection dramatically increases survival rates.

In Australia, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 while 3000 people will lose their life this year to the disease.

The truck provides free screening services to more than 1000 women in remote areas of the NT each year, including up to 20 communities.

Millie traditionally stays in Katherine for almost a month each year, to provide access to free 20-minute appointments to women aged 50-74.

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