Breast screening - Information for women aged 70 years and over - English Large Print - HE10120-ELP

Breast screening information for women over 70 years of age

BreastScreen Aotearoa

Adapted in 2026 by Accessible Formats Service, Blind Low Vision NZ, Auckland

Transcriber's Note: The logo at the top of the page is BreastScreen Aotearoa and a circle with "Time to screen" inside.

This information is from BreastScreen Aotearoa.

BreastScreen Aotearoa is New Zealand’s free national breast screening service that checks for signs of breast cancer.

If you have any questions after reading this information phone us on 0800 270 200 If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can use New Zealand Relay Services

How is eligibility for breast screening being extended?

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 two 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 two years until you turn 75, if you turned 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, go online to Breast screening or phone us.

There is an online calculator to find out your eligibility. The calculator is not in alternate formats and may not be accessible. If you need help to access it, you can ask a family member, friend or your GP. You can find the calculator at Screening Support Services in Aotearoa New Zealand

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 in two ways:

• online using the secure personalised link in your invitation
• by phoning us

If you think you are eligible and due but have not received an invitation, please let us know by calling us or by completing the enrolment form online at Breast screening

It’s your choice

You can choose whether you want 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.

We are 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, go online to Breast screening or call us, talk with your healthcare provider, or go to Breast screening – HealthEd for resources called Screening for breast cancer: joining BreastScreen Aotearoa and Having a mammogram. These resources are available in accessible formats.

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. To do this you will need 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.

What can women aged 75 or over do?

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 you are 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 bleedingpersistent 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. Remember, women of any age who feel or notice anything unusual about their breasts, at any time, should see their healthcare provider.

Contact details

Our contact number is 0800 270 200 If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can use New Zealand Relay Services 

You can phone us to enrol, book or change your free mammogram appointment if you are eligible for screening. Hours of operation for the phone line depend on the service hours of your regional provider.

For general enquiries about screening, email screening@health.govt.nz

For support in your area to help overcome barriers to screening go to Screening Support Services in Aotearoa New Zealand

For more information about screening including the location of your local screening service provider go online to Breast screening

End of Breast screening information for women over 70 years of age