(xh Nelson Marlborough to start offering free breast screenings to people aged 70-74

Free breast screening has also been extended to women aged 70 to 74.
Photograph: BSIP via AFP

• Free breast screening extended from 70 to 74 for women aged 69
• Nelson/Marlborough area first to see app
• National rollout is planned for October next year

The Nelson/Marlborough region will be the first region to introduce an expanded breast screening program due to its capacity to handle additional demand.

The government announced that the deadline has been extended schema For women from age 69 to age 74 for five years.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said the extension was necessary.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand, with approximately 3400 women diagnosed with the disease each year,” Reti said. he said.

“The purpose of breast screening is to detect breast cancer early, before visible symptoms appear.

“Women who participate in the BreastScreen Aotearoa program are 34 per cent less likely to die from breast cancer.

“That’s why earlier this year I announced the government would expand breast cancer screening to women aged 70-74, a commitment reinforced through the 2024 Budget, which provides $31.2 million for this initiative,” he said.

Reti said the Nelson/Marlborough area was a good place to start.

“Nelson/Marlborough has the capacity and both the infrastructure and workforce to begin implementing this program. Full implementation will occur within a year, giving us the opportunity to iron out any wrinkles or anything we need,” he said.

Reti said between 4,000 and 5,000 people have become eligible under the expansion in the region.

Te Whatu Ora Breast Screening South general manager Louise McCarthy said she was pleased more local women, including Wāhine Māori and Pacific women who are more likely to get breast cancer, would be able to access extra mammography.

“Our partnership with Te Piki Oranga, a local Maori healthcare provider, and our relationships with other stakeholders will help improve access to breast screening for Maori and Pacific women.

“Early diagnosis across Nelson Marlborough will undoubtedly lead to better health outcomes for the individual, wider whānau and community,” McCarthy said.

Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service Director of Prevention Alana Ewe-Snow said this was a huge milestone.

“We look forward to expanding our services with the help of Pacific Radiology and are looking to add a new location for our breast screening mobile unit in Ūkaipō, Wairau in early 2025.

“When the age extension under the national breast screening program is fully implemented, women ages 70 to 74 will be entitled to an average of two to three additional free mammograms.

“Approximately 20 lives are expected to be saved each year and approximately 60,000 additional women per year are expected to become eligible for screening.”

Ah-Leen Rayner, general manager of the Breast Cancer Foundation, said that the foundation first started a campaign to remove this age limit eight years ago.

“We requested this because women’s risk of developing breast cancer does not stop at age 69; in fact, you are more likely to develop breast cancer at age 70 than at age 50.”

The national rollout of the extension is planned for October 2025.