Breast Screening Programme | Southern

Public Service, Breast, Community Health, Radiology

Description

The BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) programme offers free, two yearly screening mammograms to eligible women aged 45-69 years.

The Breast Screening Programme:

provides comprehensive information about the purpose of breast screening
encourages informed participation in BreastScreen Aotearoa

For further information please call 0800 270 200, visit www.nsu.govt.nz

Referral Expectations

Women who wish to enrol on the programme, can enrol themselves by calling BreastScreen Aotearoa on freephone 0800 270 200.

Your GP may also enrol you, although you do not need a referral from your GP to enrol on the programme.

Who can have a free screening mammogram?

A woman can have a free screening mammogram every two years through BreastScreen Aotearoa if she:

is between 45 and 69 years old
has no symptoms of breast cancer
has not had a mammogram in the last 12 months
is not pregnant or breastfeeding
is eligible for public health services in New Zealand, i.e. is a New Zealand citizen or has a New Zealand visa that is valid for at least two years.

If a woman has a current breast symptom that has not been checked by a doctor, she is not eligible to enrol with BreastScreen Aotearoa.

Women of any age who feel or notice anything unusual about their breasts, at any time, should see their doctor.

Most lumps and symptoms will not be cancer.

Services Provided

Breast screening

Health screening tests check for health conditions or early warning signs of disease.

Breast screening

Health screening tests check for health conditions or early warning signs of disease.

Mammogram

A mammogram is a special type of x-ray used only for the breast. Mammography can be used either to look for very early breast cancer in women without breast symptoms (screening) or to examine women who do have breast symptoms (diagnostic). What to expect? You will need to undress from the waist up. One of your breasts will be positioned between two plastic plates which will flatten the breast slightly. Most women find that this is a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. Generally two x-rays are taken of each breast. It is also useful to compare the results with earlier examinations and you should take any previous mammography results with you.

What to expect?

You will need to undress from the waist up. One of your breasts will be positioned between two plastic plates which will flatten the breast slightly. Most women find that this is a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. Generally two x-rays are taken of each breast. It is also useful to compare the results with earlier examinations and you should take any previous mammography results with you.