Key points
- BreastScreen Aotearoa is New Zealand’s free national breast screening service.
- Women aged 45-69 (currently being rolled out to 74) are eligible for free mammograms every two years through the service. Talk to eligible patients about enrolling for free mammograms at appointments.
- The service only screens asymptomatic women. Women with symptoms of breast cancer are referred through their GP to their district health breast clinic.
BreastScreen Aotearoa
BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) provides free mammograms every two years to women aged 45-69. They can enrol in this service by calling 0800 270 200 or they can register online. The age range for free breast screening is currently being extended to include women up to 74 by the end of 2029.
Once a patient turns 45, talk to her about enrolling with BSA, or enrol her during your consultation.
BreastScreening Aotearoa offers mammograms at fixed sites around the country, as well as mobile screening units. Find those locations here.
Referring symptomatic patients
If a patient presents with symptoms of breast cancer, they should be referred to the district breast clinic (or private radiology) by their GP.
Private screening
Screening mammograms and ultrasounds can also be performed at private breast or radiology clinics. Women who are not eligible through BSA (e.g. if they are under 45 and over 69) are able to make an appointment at these services at their own cost.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ recommends women aged 40-50 consider having yearly mammograms as breast cancer is more aggressive in younger women. Women can have mammograms and/or ultrasounds in alternate years through a private clinic once they are eligible for the national screening programme, again at their own cost.
Thermography is not recommended as a breast screening or diagnostic tool.
Screening for specific populations
There is limited evidence that male-to-female transgender patients on endocrine therapy have the same risk of developing breast cancer as a cisgender woman. See the breast screening guidelines for transgender patients.
Screen 70+
The age range for free breast screening is currently being extended to include women up to 74 by the end of 2029.
The merits of continuing with breast screening until age 74 if you are not yet eligible should be discussed. The Breast Cancer Foundation NZ decision aid can be used as a tool in these discussions.
