When it comes to Breast Screening … 40 is the new 50!

When it comes to Breast Screening … 40 is the new 50!

Joedy was 47 when she heard an ad on the radio about BreastScreen NSW offering free screening mammograms to women over 40 years of age.  Like most of us, Joedy had always heard that breast screening was for women over the age of 50.  Joedy had no suspicious lumps in her breasts, no family history, but her mum was also having her breast screen mammogram so she decided to book in and have one too.

It turns out that Joedy’s breast cancer was detected from her choosing to have a breast screen that day at 47 years of age.  BreastScreen NSW still heavily promotes that breast screening is most effective for women over 50 years of age, despite also offering this free service to women over 40 years of age as well.

Joedy was told that had she waited until she was 50 to have her first breast screen it would have been too late for her.  Her cancer would have progressed too far.  Thankfully the cancer was caught reasonably early but still resulted in Joedy having chemotherapy, surgery, and 19 rounds of radiation.  Joedy is also now on medication for the next 10 years that has some nasty side effects.

So many of our ladies share similar stories of being told by Dr’s that they were too young to get breast cancer but yet they have all been diagnosed with breast cancer.   You are never too young to get cancer.  If you want a particular test done and you met with resistance, then be persistent with your Dr and demand to have the test anyway…. It could save your life.

The BreastScreen NSW mobile bus is located in Windsor until 28 July 2023.  To book call 132050 or go to https://www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au