Discussing Mammograms

It's vital for health professionals to talk to patients about breast cancer risk factors and the benefits of regular screening, especially for women aged 50-74.

Why Talking About Breast Screening Is Important

Did you know that many women who have never had a screening mammogram believe they will never get breast cancer?

The same research* showed that women without a family history of breast cancer believed they were not at risk of developing breast cancer – when in fact, 9 out of 10 women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history.

We also know that... 

• Screening mammograms are not top of mind for women

• Lack of time and inconvenience are considered as barriers to having regular screening mammograms for women who aren’t regular screeners

• Misconceptions around breast screening are common in all groups of women

• Women can find the topic of screening mammograms embarrassing to talk about

• Not all women understand the concept of population screening, especially those with little experience of the health system or who come from countries where population health initiatives are uncommon.

Insights like these show just how important it is for health professionals to talk to their patients about breast cancer risk factors and the benefits of regular breast screening, especially for women aged 50-74.

Find out more about referring a woman to BreastScreen NSW 

* The research, conducted in 2011 for BreastScreen NSW, involved both qualitative and quantitative components with groups of eligible women. The quantitative component included a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview of 1,010 women aged 40 to 69. The qualitative component consisted of focus groups and interviews of women aged 40 to 69.

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