Breast cancer screening policy

Breast cancer causes the second highest number of cancer deaths in Australian women (after lung cancer), yet survival is relatively good if it is detected in its early stages.

Population-based mammography screening for breast cancer was introduced in Australia from 1991 to 1995 through the BreastScreen Australia program. Access to BreastScreen Australia by Australian women is determined by age alone. The program is targeted specifically at women with no symptoms aged 50-74 years, who are invited to participate every two years.   

The impact of breast cancer in Australia and breast cancer risk factors, as well as the evidence around population-based mammography screening, including information on the potential benefits and harms, is included in the breast cancer chapter of our National Cancer Prevention Policy.

Cancer Council Australia has been funded by the Australian Government to explore options for more risk-based, personalised approaches to early detection of asymptomatic breast cancer in Australia, via the project Optimising Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Australia (OEDBCA), which began in 2018.

Sources

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2014. Cancer in Australia: an overview 2014. Cancer series No 90. Cat. no. CAN 88. Canberra: AIHW