BreastScreen Australia offers free screening mammograms every 2 years.
- Target group: women aged 50-74, who are sent invitations.
- Women aged 40-49 and 75 and over can also attend free, without invitation.
- No GP referral is needed; women can book directly.
- Includes transgender and gender-diverse people for whom screening is appropriate.
Important for exam answers:
- Screening is for asymptomatic women. A woman with a lump, nipple change or other symptom needs diagnostic triple assessment (examination, imaging and biopsy), not a BreastScreen booking.
- Women at high risk (strong family history, BRCA carriers) need individual surveillance plans, often with MRI.
- Dense breasts reduce mammogram sensitivity.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women.