Your breast screen appointment

Book online or call us on 13 20 50.  

If you’re aged 50–74, we’ll send you an invitation to come for a breast screen every 2 years. 

We offer group bookings for women who feel more comfortable coming for a breast screen together. You might like to bring friends, family or other women in your community. 

For a group, we book a series of appointment times on the same day. Each woman has a private appointment with a female radiographer. 

Call us on 13 20 50 to arrange a group booking. 

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You can change or cancel your appointment online using your booking code or by calling 13 20 50. 

Breast screens can detect cancers the size of a grain of rice, long before you or your doctor can see or feel any changes.¹⁵³⁶  

As well as having a regular breast screen (mammogram), you should also become familiar with the look and feel of your own breasts, so it is easier for you to tell if something changes. If you have any breast changes or symptoms, see your doctor straight away. 

We offer an inclusive, supportive and safe service. We aim to reduce barriers to regular breast screening for all women. 

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You can have a free breast screen in more than 250 locations across NSW. It could be near your house, your work or where you shop. 

Search for your closest BreastScreen NSW location or check when a mobile breast screening van will be near you.   

You can also call us on 13 20 50. 

No, BreastScreen NSW offers free breast screens for all women over 40. 

No, you do not need a doctor's referral to visit BreastScreen NSW. 

 Book online or call 13 20 50.

 Ensure you know the address of your screening location, including parking and public transport options.

 Wear a two-piece outfit (you’ll need to remove your clothes from the waist up).

 Let us know in advance if you have breast implants, a pacemaker or other implantable device, a family history of breast cancer, mobility or language needs.

 Do not use powder, deodorant or creams on your body on the day of your breast screen as they can affect your x-ray. 

1. Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment. 
2. We will ask you to review your details, fill in a questionnaire about your current breast health and sign a consent form.  
3. Let us know if your last mammogram was not with BreastScreen NSW. We may ask for your consent to access your digital images. 
4. Your appointment will take around 20 minutes. 
5. A female radiographer will take you to a private room where you can remove your clothing from the waist up.  
6. Please let the radiographer know if you have sensitive breasts, back or shoulder problems. 
7. The radiographer will take x-rays of each breast. It may be a little uncomfortable, but it is only for a brief time. 
8. You can stop the breast screen at any time. 

1. Your x-ray images will be reviewed independently by at least 2 specially trained doctors.  
2. You will receive the results of your breast screen in writing in about 2 weeks. 
3. With your permission, the results will also be sent to your doctor. 
4. If there is something on your breast screen that needs further investigation, you will be asked to attend an assessment clinic with our specialist teams for further tests. Around 90% of women called back for further tests do not have breast cancer.¹⁴⁷⁸ 

Learn more about further tests

Allow 20 minutes for your entire appointment. The breast screen itself only takes a few minutes.   

If you use a wheelchair, have breast implants or have any other additional needs, we may need to book a longer appointment. Please tell us if you think you will need extra time when you book.  

The breast screen is conducted in a private room. The radiographer will be female. She will give you privacy while you remove your clothing. 

If you would like to bring your own shawl for modesty, please speak to us on the phone when you book your appointment.  

We ask every person who books a breast screen:  

• Do you have breast implants?  
• Have you had breast surgery?  

We ask this because these factors can affect the appearance of your screening images.

You will receive the results of your breast screen in writing in about 2 weeks. If you haven’t received your results after 2 weeks, call us on 13 20 50. 

You will receive a letter with your results. If you have provided your doctor’s details, we will also send them a copy of your results.  

If you need help understanding your results letter, call us on 13 20 50. 

Around 1 in 20 women will need further tests after their regular breast screen.¹⁴⁷⁸  

If that’s you, we will ask you to come to a BreastScreen NSW assessment clinic. This will be as soon as possible after your breast screen. Like your breast screen, this assessment is free.  

It’s normal to feel nervous if you need further tests. But it’s important to note that around 90% of women who have further tests DO NOT have breast cancer.¹⁴⁷⁸   

Instead, it means that the doctors who reviewed your breast x-rays identified something that needs a closer look - at this stage, more tests are needed to check whether this is not concerning or is due to cancer. 

Call us on 13 20 50 if you have any questions. 

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At the assessment clinic our staff will explain what will happen and answer any questions. You will be asked to read about and consent to any further tests before they are done.  

Then a team, including specialist doctors, will do more tests on the area that needs investigating and keep you informed about the findings.  

These are some of the further tests you may have: 

• Breast x-rays – These x-rays will focus on the area of the breast that needs checking. This includes 3D x-rays (or tomosynthesis).  
• Breast ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to check breast tissue. 
• Clinical breast examination – A doctor will check the breast for any noticeable changes (i.e. changes that can be seen or felt).  
• Needle biopsy – A needle is used to take a small sample of cells and/or tissue from the part of the breast that needs to be checked. A needle biopsy may be recommended after imaging tests when further information about the nature of the finding is still needed. This will be fully explained and your consent requested to proceed. 

No. If we ask you to come back for an assessment, you do not have to pay for those tests. They will all be free. 

Assessments usually take 2–4 hours. But please allow for a full day in case we need to perform multiple tests.  

In most cases, you will get your results at your assessment. However, if you need a needle biopsy as part of your assessment, you will usually get your results within a week. 

A small number of women – about 6 out of 1,000 – who have a breast screen will be diagnosed with breast cancer.¹⁴⁷⁸  

If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, our staff will explain the next steps, and where to get the information and support you need. We can also let your doctor know.  

If you have received a breast cancer diagnosis, you can get more information and referral advice from the Cancer Institute NSW here. 

Learn more about your breast screen results.

For women aged 50–74, a breast screen every 2 years is the best way to find breast cancer early, before you can notice a change or feel a lump. 

Some women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer and may be asked to have a screen every year. 

If you are aged between 50–74 years, we will send you a reminder when your next screen is due.  

Don’t forget to tell us if your contact details change by calling 13 20 50.  

It’s important to know how your breasts look and feel, so you can tell if something changes between breast screens. Check for changes by looking at and feeling your breasts regularly. If you notice any breast changes, see your doctor as soon as possible.