SCREENING THAT WORKS FOR EVERY BODY WE WILL ADVOCATE UNTIL BREAST SCREENING WORKS, FOR EVERYONE
Australia’s national BreastScreen program saves lives, but it doesn’t work equally well for everyone. Half of eligible women still don't screen, and the current ‘one- size-fits-all’ approach means some cancers are missed, others are caught too late, and women at lower risk undergo unnecessary screening. From breast density and family history to screening technologies and intervals, there are many factors that affect someone’s risk of developing breast cancer and the likelihood that it will be detected early. But these factors aren’t always considered, which creates both inequity and inefficiency across the system. BCNA is leading the national push for a contemporary, research-based, personalised, risk-based screening where every Australian gets the screening they need, when it counts. We know we can succeed. In 2023, BCNA played a key role in shaping BreastScreen Australia’s position statement on breast density, ensuring clearer, more consistent information reaches both women and health professionals. We were also a major contributor to the Roadmap to Optimising Screening in Australia (ROSA), which informed the Federal Government’s recent review of the BreastScreen program. These wins show what’s possible—and what comes next. Governments listen to our advice, and act on it. Our advocacy is informed, respected and grounded in the needs of people affected by breast cancer. Now we’re ready to lead the next phase of reform, calling for a national commitment to screening consistency, policy change, and progress in personalised prevention.
40% OF BREAST CANCERS MISSED BY SCREENING MAY BE LINKED TO BREAST DENSITY
RISK-BASED SCREENING SAVES LIVES
LINDA diagnosed at 50
This priority is about building a screening system that reflects the best available science and leads to the best possible outcomes— for everyone.
Our first step will be to draw on the BreastScreen review and bring together the brightest minds from across Australia to provide federal and state governments with a clear, actionable roadmap to modernise the screening program. We are committed to delivering practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen our healthcare system and impact the lives of all Australians. Your support will accelerate our ability to lead this next wave of reform, and make breast cancer screening smarter, fairer and more effective for generations to come.
Having the BRCA1 gene is like a ticking time bomb. Waiting years for surgery meant I couldn’t plan my life, and the anxiety was relentless. If the system allowed faster, risk-informed access, my daughters and others like them could take control sooner, avoid fear, and live with confidence and hope for the future.”
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Breast Cancer Network Australia
Case for Support
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