A Public Health program to utilise the power of the primary health care relationship between general practitioners and their patients to increase breast cancer prevention and early detection actions, as outlined in the Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for people with breast cancer.
Donate now to support AGPN's effort to increase screening and support national screening registers.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women, with more than 20,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Early detection through regular screening is crucial in reducing the mortality rate associated with this disease. General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in encouraging and facilitating participation in breast screening programs.
In Australia, women have a 1 in 8 risk lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast cancer may be identified via a self test, or more often through the national, free, state based breast screening programs
Breast screening programs are provided across Australia for women aged 40 to 74, providing fully funded mammograms. These programs are for asymptomatic individuals.
Many people are unaware that breast cancer can affect Men as well as women.
1 in 550 men will get breast cancer with around 200 diagnosed every year.
Unlike Bowel and Cervical cancer there is no national system to remind patients and their doctors that they are due to have breast screening.
Reminders are often missed when people move, change doctors or do not remember.
Desnisty is a major predictor. Every unit in density increase is a 2-3% increase in lifetime risk.
If you have been identified as having high density breasts, speak to your GP about your risks.
