Nine out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease[1], challenging the common misconception that breast screening is only a priority for those with a family history. Early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly improve breast cancer survival rates and a mammogram is an effective screening tool for detection.
It is recommended that women aged 50–74 years have a regular mammogram every two years. For some, the nature of their family history may require them to have a mammogram more frequently. For example, women aged 40 years and over are encouraged to have a mammogram annually if they have an immediate family member (a person’s parent, sibling or child) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 40 years and over are also recommended to screen.
Breast Screening in Western Sydney
BreastScreen NSW aims to improve the survival rates of women with breast cancer by providing free screening mammograms to women aged 50-74 years. Women aged 40-49 years and women aged 75 years and over are also eligible to attend. For more information about eligibility and recommendations, visit the BreastScreen NSW website.
Next month, the BreastScreen NSW mobile service will be screening at Blacktown City Council Car Park from Friday 4 to Sunday 27 August. Please encourage your eligible patients to book an appointment by calling 13 20 50, reminding them that this is free, a referral is not needed, and it only takes 20 minutes. A poster on this service is available for printing and sharing within your practice.
For other breast screening locations, patients can visit the BreastScreen NSW website.
Please note that BreastScreen NSW does not offer screening mammograms to women experiencing breast cancer symptoms. If a patient notices an unusual breast change, they are encouraged to see their GP straight away.
Western Sydney HealthPathways
Western Sydney HealthPathways offers clinicians local information to make the right decisions, together with patients, at the point of care.
Western Sydney health professionals can access Breast Screening pathways for free on the Western Sydney HealthPathways website.
To gain access, contact our HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au
Resources to Share with Your Patients
Cancer Australia developed the Check Your Cancer Risk tool that assesses how a person’s everyday lifestyle choices can affect their risk of cancer. The results will also provide tips on how to lower the risk of cancer.
iPrevent is a breast cancer risk assessment and risk management decision support tool. It will provide a personalised report designed to facilitate prevention and screening discussions between the user and their doctors.
BreastScreen NSW has produced breast cancer resources for Aboriginal women, outlining specific advice for their community. They include a video, fact sheet and posters.
Cancer Institute NSW’s Breast Health and Screening flipchart and facilitator manual have been designed as tools to assist in providing education on breast cancer and breast cancer screening to women and men from different cultural backgrounds. The flipchart is currently available in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese.
NSW Cancer Conference 2023
Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE), Sydney Cancer Partners, and NSW Regional Health Partners are hosting the NSW Cancer Conference again this year for people working in and interested in cancer research. It will showcase existing and emerging strengths in cancer research, with several presentations from international, interstate, and local speakers.
The event will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on 18 –19 September 2023. Please register for the conference by Friday 4 September.
[1] BreastScreen NSW (2020), Breast Cancer and Family History. Available from: https://www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-and-family-history/
27 July 2023