BreastScreen WA invites women aged 50-74 years to their clinic for a free mammogram every second year. A mammogram is a low dose x-ray of the breast tissue which can detect very small cancers, before they can be physically felt by a patient or doctor. Over 75% of breast cancers occur in women over 50 years of age. Breast cancer is less common in younger women and doing screening tests on women younger than 50 years of age is less accurate because breasts are denser, making signs of cancer harder to see.
Women aged 40 years and over with no breast cancer symptoms can also make an appointment at BreastScreen WA, but they won’t get an invitation through the mail.
If you have a strong family history, an increased risk of breast cancer or are generally concerned about your breast cancer risk, ask your GP whether you should start screening at an earlier age.
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