Free Breast Screening For More NZ Women Will Categorically Save Lives

Aotearoa New Zealand has the chance to save the lives of
women aged 70 to 74 by including them in the free national
screening programme breast cancer, Breast Cancer Foundation
New Zealand (BCFNZ) says. But politicians must
act.

BCFNZ chair Justine Smyth is welcoming the
National Party’s election commitment to extend the current
age range for breast screening from 45 to 69, to include
women from 70 to 74.

“This is an important
commitment that will categorically save the lives of our
mums, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and aunties,” says
Ms Smyth.

“A woman’s risk of breast cancer is
higher at 70 than it is at 50 and mammograms are key to
early detection, especially for Māori and Pacific women who
have poorer survival rates. We’ve long been advocating for
women aged 70 to 74 to be included in the national breast
cancer screening programme and we’re pleased to see that
National has been listening.

“We want all other
political parties to make the same commitment, because
breast cancer cruelly takes too many women from us,” Ms
Smyth
says.

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