Breastscreen Aotearoa

Did you know that...

Free breast screening for women aged 45 to 69 years is provided by the national breast screening programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa.
The aim of breast screening is to find very small cancers before a lump can be found on the breast. Early treatment has the best chance of success.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women.
The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Breast cancer is uncommon in women under 50.
For older women, breast screening using mammography (breast x-rays) followed by appropriate treatment is the best way of reducing the chance of dying from breast cancer.

June Northcroft Grant - Breast Cancer Survivor

"I survived breast cancer because I found it early"

Jane Manawanui Ikinofo - Breast Cancer Survivor

"Go for your breast screening. That way you'll put your mind at peace."

Jack's story - it's about the whole whanau

Jack's mother died of breast cancer at age 53. He urges women to have regular breast screening.

Surviving breast cancer - Maata's story

Breast cancer survivor Maata had her cancer detected following a mammogram through the programme.

To contact your nearest BreastScreen Aotearoa Centre Freephone 0800 270 200

Joint position statement on breast awareness October 2008

Adobe PDF - 318 Kb

Detailed booklet now available - More about breast screening and BreastScreen Aotearoa

Adobe PDF - 1699 Kb

Breast Screening Pathway - what to expect:

The breast screening pathway begins with eligible women being offered the opportunity to take part in BreastScreen Aotearoa, and deciding to take part. Women taking part will be asked to have a mammogram.

If the result is normal, they will be invited to have another mammogram in two years time. In a small number of cases, further investigation will be required, and these women will be recalled. Those recalled will be offered further tests and a small number will be found to have breast cancer. Options for action will then be discussed.