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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Written by Aksel Ritenis

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 Published on 25/09/2024

Be a Friend. Tell a Friend. You might just save a life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are encouraging people to ‘Be a Friend. Tell a Friend’ by talking to their loved ones about the importance of regular breast screening so that more women book an appointment when they are due.

Whether you’ve recently had a breast screen or are passionate about spreading the word, sharing this information will spark conversations that can save lives.

Tell a friend why breast screening matters

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in NSW.

For women aged 50-74, a breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early. A breast screen (also known as a mammogram) can find cancer before you notice a symptom. When breast cancer is caught early, there are more treatment options available, and there is a greater chance of survival. The reality is that the two biggest risk factors for developing breast cancer are simply being born female and getting older—9 out of 10 women diagnosed have no family history of the disease.

Be a friend

Encourage the women in your life to have a free breast screen with BreastScreen NSW. Small gestures can make a big difference in helping women get screened and it may just save their life.

bcam-be-a-friend.-tell-a-friend-stakeholder-toolkit-external

Some ways you can support the women you care about to have their breast screen:

BCAM tell a friend Tell them about the benefits of breast screening 
BCAM help a friend book Help them book or book an appointment together 
BCAM symbol smart phone reminder text Send them a reminder text before their appointment 
BCAM car driving friend icon Drive them to their appointment 
breast cancer awareness month coffee with a friend icon Take them for a coffee afterwards 

 

Spread the word
  • Follow and like us on Facebook and Instagram
  • Tag your friends in social media posts about breast screening
  • Share your own story about breast screening on social media or when you next catch up with friends

Friendship saves lives

Having a chat about breast screening can make a real difference. Together, we can increase awareness and help more women access the life-saving benefits of breast screening.

Be a friend, tell a friend today!

Despite this, almost 650,000 NSW women in the target age group haven’t had their recommended breast screen in the past two years. This means that more than 50% of eligible women are not screening regularly with BreastScreen NSW. NSW has the third lowest national breast screening participation rate.

Target audience

The campaign will target women aged 50–to74 in NSW, including a specific focus on Aboriginal women and Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.

Key messages

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in NSW.
  • 9 in 10 women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
  • You can have breast cancer without any symptoms.
  • Breast screening is recommended for women aged 50–to74 every two years – most breast cancers occur in this age group.
  • Breast screening is free, and an appointment only takes 20 minutes.
  • To book your free breast screen, visit book.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au or call 13 20 50.

Further information


About the author

Aksel Ritenis

Publisher and Custodian of the Sydney Times

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