Assessment and Diagnosis

While most women will receive a normal result from their screening mammogram, less than 10% will be recalled to an Assessment Clinic for further tests.

What if my Patient Needs Further Tests?

While the majority of women who have a screening mammogram will be told there is no sign of breast cancer, less than 10% will be recalled to an Assessment Clinic for further tests.

Of these, around 90% will be told they do not have breast cancer.

If your patient needs further tests after her screening mammogram, these will be undertaken at no cost to the patient.

Following assessment, we will provide you (as the patient’s registered GP) with the results of any additional tests.

What do the additional tests involve?

Further tests conducted at our Assessment Clinics may include some or all of the following: 

• Additional mammograms
• Breast ultrasound
• Clinical breast examination
• Needle biopsy

Who is on the assessment team?

In our multidisciplinary Assessment Clinics, a specialist team may include radiologists, surgeons, breast physicians, pathologists, nurse counsellors, radiographers and sonographers. 

What happens if breast cancer is diagnosed?

If a breast cancer is diagnosed in your patient, she will be referred directly to you as her GP, or to a breast surgeon working in a multidisciplinary team following consultation with you.

BreastScreen NSW will keep you fully informed about the results of your patient’s assessment.

Where can I get more information?

To find out about multidisciplinary care options and identify the most appropriate team for your patient, visit Canrefer.

Canrefer is an online directory set up by the Cancer Institute NSW. It can be used by GPs, other health professionals, and patients and their family members to find cancer services by cancer type and location in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

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