THERE were laughs and giggles on Sharp Street last Thursday as McGrath Foundation breast care nurse Bronnie Taylor took to the streets with breast cancer survivor and women’s health nurse Jane Redmond to promote breast awareness among women.

Being breast aware is no laughing matter. Mrs Redmond said thirty six women hear the words “you have breast cancer” every day and seven will tragically lose their lives to the disease.

October is Breast Care Month and Mrs Taylor said it was vital women were up to date and armed with the latest information relating to breast health.

The nurses joined forces with the Monaro Committee for Cancer Research (MCCR) to get the word out there.

“It is so important that women are aware because 95 per cent of the time it is going to be fine, but when it is not there are such good health outcomes if it is caught early,” Mrs Taylor said.

Mrs Taylor said treatments for breast cancer had come a long way in recent years.

The McGrath Foundation recently received a $150 donation from the business house swim relay held at the Cooma Festival Swimming Pool on October 17.

Mrs Taylor said the gesture was a nice surprise and would go toward funding more breast care nurses like herself in rural Australia.

MCCR president Sue Litchfield recently returned from the Breast Cancer network of Australia conference in Melbourne where she spoke on the benefits to the community of having an oncology unit.

“I delivered the speech to a large audience of mostly rural women,” Mrs Litchfield said.

“They asked how we got it to Cooma and how it runs.”

Mrs Litchfield said the Cooma unit was an example for rural cancer treatment that should be applauded.

Mrs Redmond knows how hard it is to be away from family and friends while you are ill.

The mother of two travelled to Sydney for treatment when she was diagnosed with breast cancer more than a decade ago.

The Cooma unit saves many women from going through the trauma of dealing with breast cancer alone.

“I don’t know how I did it really, but I guess I didn’t have a choice I had to,” she said.

Mrs Taylor said if you notice any change in your breasts that was not normal for you to see a doctor it could save your life.

The boys should not feel left out with Movember kicking off on November 1 to raise awareness for prostate cancer and men’s health.

South east men’s health ambassador John Hayhoe and prostate cancer survivor will be speaking about the disease at the Alpine Hotel on November 26 at 6pm.