Be breast aware and know what to do about finding breast cancer early.
The best thing you can do for your breast health is to Be Breast Aware. It’s important for women of all ages, even if you are having regular mammograms.
How to Be Breast Aware
-
Get to know the normal look and feel of your breasts as a part of everyday activities like showering and dressing. Know what is normal for you
-
Visit your doctor if you notice anything that looks and feels unusual for you
-
Have your free breast screen mammogram every 2 years when aged 45-69 years, or up to 74 years if you qualify for the age extension
-
Everyone’s breasts are different. Become familiar with how yours look and feel. A guide to checking your breasts can be found here. Make sure to look at and feel all parts of your breasts, right up to your collarbone (upper chest) and armpits
What is breast screening?
If you are aged 45 to 69, have your free breast screen (mammogram) every 2 years.
If you are aged 70 to 74, you may also be eligible for screening. Click here for information for women aged 70 and over.
A mammogram is an x-ray of your breasts. A mammogram can be used to find early signs of breast cancer before you can see or feel changes. Mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer early.
Getting a mammogram
Your appointment will be at a clinic or on a mobile breast screening bus.
You will stand at an x-ray machine. Each breast will be placed on a machine and firmly pressed between two plates for a short period. You will feel some pressure that can be uncomfortable.
Normally, two x-rays are taken of each breast at different angles. If you have large breasts they may need to take more.
The amount of radiation from the x-rays is very small, about the same as a chest x‑ray, and is very unlikely to cause harm.
Getting your results
You should receive your results within 3 weeks.
If nothing is found, you will get a letter. If something needs further investigation, or the mammogram result was unclear, you will be phoned. You may need more tests to find out what's going on. These tests may include another mammogram, an ultrasound or a biopsy.
Changes to look and feel for
If you notice anything that looks or feels different, get it checked by your doctor.
Changes may include:
-
a new lump, swelling or thickened area in the breast, upper chest or armpit
-
change to your breast shape or size
-
change to the nipple, such as crusting, sores, and ulcer, redness or the nipple being pulled in
-
fluid/liquid from either nipple
-
changes to breast skin such as dimpling or redness
-
an unusual pain in the breast or armpit that won’t go away
Keep in mind that breast changes are very common, and most are not cancer (for example, cysts and fibroids are a common non-cancerous type of breast lump). See your doctor to be sure. Finding breast cancer early means that there are more treatment options and treatment is more likely to be successful.
Who should regularly check their breasts?
-
Women of all ages
-
Transgender men or nonbinary people assigned female at birth who have not had an operation to remove the breasts
-
Men - breast cancer is uncommon in men, with approximately 25 cases diagnosed per year in New Zealand. However, it’s still important for men to become familiar with how their breast tissue normally looks and feels so they can notice any change
-
Transgender women (assigned male at birth) who are taking male-to-female hormone therapy
BreastScreen Aotearoa
BreastScreen Aotearoa is New Zealand’s free national breast screening programme. The programme provides mammograms to all New Zealand women aged 45 to 69 (and some 70- to 74- year olds).
Mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer early.
Is it your time to screen?
Visit New Zealand’s Cancer Screening website
Phone 0800 270 200