BreastScreen offers personalised screening based on future risk

Sunshine Coast service lead investigator Dr Lisa Hammerton.

Over the past nine months, BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast service has recruited over 12,000 women to participate in a world first research study. The study is designed to assess the impacts of breast density notification on women participating in the screening program.

The BreastScreen program saves lives through the early detection of breast cancer. Finding breast cancer early means more treatment options and better outcomes. Age remains the biggest risk factor, with most breast cancers occurring in women over the age of 50. Other factors including family history, lifestyle, and breast density can influence breast cancer risk.

Dr Lisa Hammerton, the Sunshine Coast service lead investigator said, “Our study will provide information on the best way to notify women about their breast density risk and also review breast density assess ment tools.”

With developments in risk assessment, breast screening could be even more effective in future.

Tailoring screening according to risk has the potential to find more breast cancers at an early stage.

“We have some way to go before there is enough evidence to make recommendations for population-level, personalised risk-based screening, but hosting this study is a step towards progressive client focussed changes,” Dr Hammerton said.

“Until then, our goal is to see more women participating in the BreastScreen program and increase our participation rate from 52%, up to the National Standard of 70%.”

• BreastScreen Queensland provides free breast cancer screening for women 40 years and over. No doctor’s referral is needed. To book call 13 20 50 or visiting breastscreen.qld.gov.au.