Ms Saliba, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, endured three operations in five weeks.

"I am incredibly grateful for the assistance BreastWest provided," she said.

"The care I received at the Western Health breast services clinic meant I was able to get the care I needed closer to home.

"If I had to attend a private hospital, there is no way I would have been able to afford treatment."

BreastWest raised more than $160,000 last year. The money was used to buy a range of items, including transport vouchers and micro-surgical instrumentation kits for breast reconstruction.

The list is updated annually after consultation with patients, nurses and clinicians.

A "nipple tattoo" machine was one of the items bought after it was mentioned on the 2008 shopping list.

"I had the tattooing in February this year and it gave me back my confidence," Ms Saliba said.

BreastWest was formed in 2006 by Western Health's surgical services divisional director, Claire Culley.

Ms Culley said she identified a gap in breast-care support offered in the west to women who faced financial difficulties while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

"After receiving my own treatment for breast cancer in Canberra, when I started at Western Health I realised that some women in the west were facing financial hardship.

"I wanted to establish a committee to provide assistance to women and raise significant funds that would be available for future generations of breast cancer survivors."

Western Health treated 126 women with breast cancer last year.

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