Number of eligible women who have never attended BreastScreen NSW

Why this indicator is important

For women^† 50 years of age and over^‡, a screening mammogram is the most effective method of finding breast cancer early.[1]

• Each year between 2016 and 2020, for women in NSW aged 50–74 years:[1]
  • around 50% had been screened by BreastScreen NSW within the recommended period of two years.
  • around 30% had been screened in the past but had not returned within the recommended timeframe.
  • around 20% had never attended screening.

Proportion of eligible BreastScreen NSW clients aged 50–74, by screening category,
NSW, 2018–2022

About this indicator

This indicator relates to participation in breast screening by women aged 50 to 74 in NSW.

• In 2022, 23.8% of eligible women in NSW aged 50 to 74 years had never attended for screening.

N = Number of women aged 50 to 74 years in population, 2022.

^†While data presented in this section specifically refers to cisgender women (i.e. women whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex), not everyone with a cervix and/or breasts is a woman, and cervical and breast cancer screening is important for everyone with a cervix and/or breasts including transgender and non-binary people.

^‡In the current Aboriginal focused pilot project PUTUWA the recommended screening age range for Aboriginal women been expanded to include participants from 40 years.

*Screened with BreastScreen NSW within the last 24 months.

**Screened with BreastScreen NSW not within the last 24 months.

^Never screened with BreastScreen NSW.

Notes

1. Data source: BreastScreen NSW (population data are sourced from SAPHARI, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health). Population data is based on Census 2021.

2. The participation rates presented here are based on the number of women who live in NSW and are screened in NSW. Interstate clients have been excluded.

3. The proportion rates presented for the women screened in the last 24 months cannot be compared with the biennial participation rates for the same period. This indicator counts women aged 50–74 at any time in 2020, whereas the biennial participation rates count women aged 50–74 at the time of their screen in 2019 or 2020, reflecting the BreastScreen Australia data dictionary.

Reference

1. Cancer Institute NSW. Reporting for Better Outcomes. Annual statewide report, 2022. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2022