Over the last 25 years, Breast Screen Aotearoa (BSA) has provided more than 5 million free screening mammograms to New Zealand women. BCAC is pleased to see BSA celebrating this milestone and we encourage all eligible women to take advantage of the national screening programme. All women aged between 45 and 69 are entitled to a free mammogram every two years. Click here to learn more about the programme and to enrol, or phone 0800 270 200. Regular breast screening with a mammogram saves lives by finding breast cancer early, when treatment is more likely to cure the cancer. You can read more about mammography here.
Earlier this year, BCAC was relieved to hear that the government is making a start on extending the free screening programme to women aged 70 to 74 years. ‘This was first promised in 2017’ says BCAC Chair Libby Burgess ‘and we very are pleased to hear that it is finally getting under way. Our risk of getting breast cancer does not stop at 69 and this will help more New Zealand women to find their cancers early, when less aggressive treatment is needed and the cancer is more likely to be eliminated.’
BCAC would also like to see the programme extended to younger women, as our breast cancer risk begins to increase in our 40s and breast cancers in younger women can be faster-growing and more aggressive than those found later in life. A 2022 review of the evidence for benefits and risks has shown that screening mammograms for those aged 40 to 49 years reduces mortality from breast cancer, years of life lost to breast cancer, and morbidity of breast cancer treatment, by detecting cancers at an earlier stage.
BCAC is also strongly advocating for BreastScreen Aotearoa to inform women of the mammographic density of their breasts at the time of screening. Breast density is important as having dense breasts not only means tumours are harder to find on a mammogram, but it also raises your risk of getting breast cancer. If you have very dense breasts, you may benefit from more frequent screening and having ultrasounds or MRIs in addition to mammograms. You can read more about breast density here and why it’s important to know your breast density here.
