Breast Cancer Awareness Month: is your breast screen up to date?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a good reminder to check whether your breast screen is up to date. About 1 in 7 women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. The biggest risk factors are simply being female and getting older. A family history matters, but it isn't the biggest risk factor, so screening is important even if no one in your family has had breast cancer.

Free screening through BreastScreen NSW

BreastScreen NSW provides free screening mammograms, which can find breast cancers when they are very small, often before they can be seen or felt. Finding breast cancer early gives the best chance of successful treatment.

• Women aged 50 to 74 are invited to have a free screening mammogram every two years.

• Women aged 40 to 49, and 75 and over, are also eligible. Talk to your GP about whether screening is right for you.

• BreastScreen NSW recommends Aboriginal women begin screening from age 40.

• You don't need a referral, and the appointment takes about 20 minutes.

To book, call BreastScreen NSW on 13 20 50 or book online. In a recent BreastScreen NSW survey, more than 4 in 10 women said they had put off their mammogram because they were too busy. Twenty minutes every two years is a small investment in your health.

Know what's normal for you

Screening is only part of the picture. Get to know how your breasts usually look and feel, and see your GP promptly if you notice any changes, such as:

• A new lump or lumpiness, especially if it's only in one breast

• A change in the size or shape of your breast

• Changes to the nipple, such as turning inwards, crusting, redness or discharge

• Changes to the skin, such as dimpling or redness

• Unusual pain that doesn't go away

Noticed a change? See your GP first

Screening mammograms are designed for people without symptoms. If you have noticed a change, book an appointment with your GP rather than waiting for a screening appointment. Your GP can examine you and arrange the right tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound.

If you're at higher risk

If you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, talk to your GP about your individual risk. BreastScreen NSW offers yearly screening to women who have a close relative diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50. Men can develop breast cancer too, although it is rare, so any changes in the chest area are worth getting checked.

We're here to help

If you'd like to talk about breast screening, your risk, or any changes you've noticed, call us on 02 6936 7020 to book an appointment.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice about your own health. Please speak with your GP about your individual circumstances.