Better breast screening is possible in Aotearoa

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-02-19 05:00

New Zealand

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Breast screening catches around 1300 cases of breast cancer in Aotearoa every year, but experts say we could be doing more. About 45% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed through screening, and they tend to have better outcomes than those who diagnosed through symptoms, like when they visit their GP to check a breast lump. The authors of the review article say that expanding the age range for screening and improving access for Māori and high-risk women would lead to more early diagnoses. They also suggest that new technologies, including AI-assisted diagnostics, could improve the accuracy of screening and potentially save money over time.