1 in 7 women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, with 9 out of 10 having no family history of breast cancer.
By detecting breast cancer early—often before symptoms appear—treatment can be less invasive, and the likelihood of a full recovery is significantly higher. Regular mammograms are a proven method for reducing breast cancer mortality, as they can identify cancers that are too small to be felt, allowing for earlier intervention and improved outcomes. Encouraging your patients to participate in BreastScreen NSW is a vital step in protecting their health and improving long-term survival rates.
Screening target group: Women aged 50-74 years.
Women 40 – 49 and over 74 years are also welcome and eligible, however will not be actively invited.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are encouraged to attend from 40 years old.
Screening frequency: Every 2 years
BreastScreen NSW locations – Click here to view locations, including current and future mobile van locations.
GP referrals are not required, however BreastScreen NSW do have GP Request Pads available to order. A request form can be provided to eligible patients to encourage them to book an appointment.
Quality Improvement
CESPHN provides ongoing support to general practice in the region to participate in breast screen quality improvement.
The aim is to improve practice level data and increase breast screening participation by:
Cleaning practice data
Identifying never-screened and under screened patients using a clinical audit tool
Implementing efficient reminder systems
Education
Please reach out if you would like to be involved!
BreastScreenNSW – a number of free consumer resources are available to view and order for your practice. There are translated resources and Aboriginal-specific resources available.
If your patient speaks a language other than English, they can call 13 14 50 to speak with an interpreter when making an appointment. BreastScreen NSW can also organise interpreters for the screening appointments and have several sites where there are bilingual workers on specific days.
Women with a disability or special need: All BreastScreen NSW screening sites are accessible. Wheelchair users may find the fixed locations easier to navigate. You can have a breast screen while seated in a wheelchair if the arms of the wheelchair can be removed or lowered. A range of assistance is available to support women with intellectual disability. Please call BreastScreen NSW on 13 20 50 to discuss individual needs.
Trans and gender diverse people: A note on language: everyone has breast tissue, regardless of their gender. We understand that not everyone identifies with having ‘breasts’. We understand that some people find ‘breast’ a gendered word. We use the term ‘breast’ to refer to the tissue affected by breast cancer (breast tissue). Please see the BreastScreen NSW website for screening recommendations for trans and gender diverse people. Additional resources are available on the Can We website.
BreastScreen NSW offers group bookings for women who feel more comfortable coming for a breast screen together. You might like to bring friends, family or other women in your community. For a group, a series of appointment times are booked on the same day. Each woman has a private appointment with a female radiographer.
Key contacts and support services ( including peak bodies)
BreastScreen NSW – provides free screening mammography at various fixed and mobile locations. A GP referral is not required, however, GPs are encouraged to refer their patients, and likewise, patients are encouraged to share their results with their GPs. BreastScreen services are delivered by female staff.
Click here for information regarding your role as a GP.
Click here for online bookings.
