Breast screening - Information for women aged 70 years and over - HE10120

BreastScreen Aotearoa is a free national breast screening programme that checks for signs of breast cancer. The programme offers free mammograms (breast x-rays) every 2 years to women aged 45 to 69 who have no symptoms of breast cancer. Eligibility for the programme is currently being extended.

Extending breast screening to age 74

BreastScreen Aotearoa is extending the age for free breast screening, beginning with women aged 70 and 74. Each October the age range will be extended by one year until all eligible women aged 70 to 74 are included. This will be fully in place by October 2029.

All of New Zealand

(excluding Nelson and Marlborough)

From October 2025 you are eligible for:

• a free mammogram every 2 years until you turn 75, if you turn 70 on or after 1 October 2025
• one final screen at age 74, if you are 70 to 74 before 1 October 2025.

Nelson and Marlborough

From October 2024, if you live in Nelson and Marlborough you are eligible for:

• a free mammogram every 2 years until you turn 75, if you turn 70 on or after 1 October 2024
• one final screen at age 74, if you are 70 to 74 before 1 October 2024.
  

For more information about the eligibility, and to decide if screening is right for you, visit TimeToBreastScreen.nz or freephone 0800 270 200

Booking mammograms with BreastScreen Aotearoa

If you are eligible and due for a mammogram with BreastScreen Aotearoa, you should receive an invitation via email, text or letter. You can enrol and book:

• online using the secure personalised link in your invitation, or
• by freephoning 0800 270 200

If you think you are eligible and due but have not received an invitation, please let us know by calling the freephone number, or by completing the enrolment form available on TimeToBreastScreen.nz

It’s your choice

You can choose whether or not to participate in BreastScreen Aotearoa. You can opt out of the programme at any time. You can also rejoin at any time, as long as you remain eligible.

What you need to know

Mammograms help find cancer early by showing changes inside the breast before anything can be felt, when they are easier to treat. This means treatment may be less harsh and more manageable, especially for older women who may be more likely to have other health conditions.

Breast cancers are more easily found on older women’s mammograms compared to younger women, due to differences in breast tissue. Dense breast tissue can make breast cancers harder to find. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is considering the use of artificial intelligence to measure breast density in the future.

For a small number of older women who have other serious health conditions, some breast cancers found through screening will not become harmful during the remainder of their lifetime.

Mammograms can miss some cancers and cancers can develop between mammograms.

Like all x-rays, mammograms expose you to a very small amount of radiation, but this is unlikely to cause harm.

Breast screening can be uncomfortable, painful or worrying for some women. You may bring a support person if you would like someone with you before and after your mammogram.

For more information, visit TimeToBreastScreen.nz, freephone 0800 270 200, talk with your healthcare provider, or read Screening for breast cancer: Joining BreastScreen Aotearoa and Having a mammogram

Mammograms for women not eligible for BreastScreen Aotearoa

Mammograms are an important part of checking breast symptoms (like a new breast lump or change) for women of any age. If you are not eligible for the screening programme, you can have free mammograms at a public hospital if you are at higher risk or have symptoms, with a healthcare provider’s referral.

Those at a greater than average risk of getting breast cancer can also be referred by a healthcare provider to have free mammograms, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies if, for example, you have had one (or more) of the following:

• a previous breast cancer
• a previous biopsy showing abnormal breast cells
• a close relative (for example, a mother, sister, daughter, aunt or grandmother) who developed breast cancer (especially if in both breasts), or ovarian cancer.

For women aged 75 or over

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether continuing to have mammograms is right for you based on your individual risk factors, overall health, and your preferences.

Whatever your age, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you notice any new changes in your breasts.

The risk of developing breast cancer

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. If you are otherwise well, discuss with your healthcare provider whether you will still benefit from having mammograms.

A family history of breast cancer may increase risk, but even among women with a family history most will not develop breast cancer.

Breast cancer in women with a family history usually happens before age 70. For women over 70 with a family history, the risk is only slightly higher than for women of the same age with no family history.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risks, any costs and how to be referred for a mammogram.

How can I check for breast cancer?

All women need to get to know what their breasts are like normally (whether having mammograms or not).

If you notice any of the following changes, (even if you’ve had a mammogram), see a healthcare provider as soon as possible:

• a new lump in the breast or armpit
• changes to the breast shape or size
• changes to the skin of the breast such as dimpling, puckering, or thickening
• changes in the nipple, such as turning inwards, ulcers, or a new itch
• nipple discharge or bleeding
• persistent redness
• pain in the breast that does not go away.

Women of any age with breast cancer symptoms can have free mammograms with a  healthcare provider’s referral.

For more information about breast screening, read the pamphlet Having a mammogram This is also available from your local Breastscreen Aotearoa centre, by freephoning 0800 270 200 or from your local Authorised Provider. 

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