“Get the Facts” about breast cancer this International Women's Day, held annually on 8 March.

BreastScreen WA has been serving WA women for over 35 years and saving countless lives.

“I had no sign or symptoms of breast cancer before I was diagnosed at 46. It came as a complete shock – I had no idea and no family history.” Jodie

“Family and work and life gets in the way. But if you don’t make that time for yourself, then sometimes life has a way of making you make time.”    Leanne

“By having a mammogram and them finding breast cancer really early, it literally saved my life.” Mel

Facts about risk

• Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
• For a small number of women, the nature of their family history may require them to attend more frequently for a screening mammogram.
• If you are concerned about your family history of breast cancer, you should discuss your individual circumstances with your GP or family doctor.

• 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• 56 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women.
• Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in Australia, after prostate cancer.
• The majority of breast cancers (over 75%) occur in women aged over 50.
• In the last 10 years, breast cancer diagnoses have increased by around 15%.
• Breast cancer deaths of Australian women aged 50–74 fell from 74 per 100,000 in 1991 to 37 per 100,000 in 2023.

Eligibility

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare