Latest news with #BreastScreen
West Australian
01-08-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Survivors call for more assistance with cancer costs
A young breast cancer survivor is calling for diagnostic tests to be made free because she fears high living costs could deter others seeking early examinations due to the expense. Despite significant improvements to treatments and survival rates, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In Australia, 58 people receive the same news mum-of-two Aimee Glen did each day. Age is the greatest risk factor and screening is offered to women over 40. However young women should also be aware of their risk, particularly if they have a family history of the disease. Ms Glen was just 31 when she first noticed a lump in her breast and was soon after diagnosed with stage two ER/PR breast cancer. She had no family history but a reminder from the Instagram account Support Your Girls prompted her to do a self-check. She then booked in to see her GP who referred her for an ultrasound at the Geelong breast clinic which was followed by multiple diagnostic tests. "It was all very quick from when I was tested to when I started treatment," Ms Glen tells AAP. "I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy known as 'the red devil' which is very hard-hitting treatment but breast cancer responds well to it." Following this, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy and has recently finished three weeks of daily radiotherapy. "The entire cancer treatment was incredibly expensive but those initial diagnostic tests were a financial stressor which is very difficult for people," she says. So far Ms Glen has spent $1442 and been left $787 out of pocket after Medicare rebates. In the meantime, she has started a petition to make ultrasounds and mammograms free for diagnostic purposes, which has gained nearly 14,000 signatures in two weeks. "There are options to go through the public system but people often have to wait months to get in and sometimes it's not an option if you do have an aggressive cancer," she says. "The petition is gaining a lot of traction, which makes me realise it has affected a lot of women and men, because breast cancer doesn't discriminate and affects a lot of people." So Brave is a charity supporting Australians facing breast cancer and its founder, Rachelle Panitz, fears young women are putting off diagnostic scans due to out-of-pocket cost. They can also have trouble accessing a diagnosis in the first place because the cancer is generally thought to affect older women, she adds. "An initial diagnosis can cost up to $3000 when you factor in all the scans and tests," Ms Panitz says. "Young women are borrowing money from their parents; they may be in the workforce but don't have that spare income." Ms Panitz has met with federal politicians about making access to diagnosis easier and more affordable. "People put (the scans) off and that can lead to worse outcomes. These kinds of considerations are not new but they are exacerbated by the cost of living," she explains. Australia's BreastScreen program is free for women over 40 and women over 50 are invited for a mammogram every two years. There is no evidence to support routinely screening women under 40, unless they are at high risk of developing breast cancer due to genetic mutations, National Breast Cancer Foundation chair in cancer prevention Nehmat Houssami says. "A key message for women, including younger women, but relevant to all women even if they have recently screened, is if you notice a change in your breast ... then please see your family doctor and talk to them about being referred for testing," she says. Changes can include a lump in the breast or a change in the skin. "Medicare covers some of the cost of these tests but unless the service bulk bills there will be out-of-pocket expenses," Professor Houssami says. "So it is possible that some women may not be accessing tests due to out-of-pocket costs." According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, federal, state and territory governments recently undertook a BreastScreen funding review, with the final report now being considered. "The review was a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the BreastScreen Australia program and was completed in mid-2025," a spokesperson says. "The latest evidence on breast cancer screening age range and screening technologies were considered as part of the review."
Perth Now
01-08-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Survivors call for more assistance with cancer costs
A young breast cancer survivor is calling for diagnostic tests to be made free because she fears high living costs could deter others seeking early examinations due to the expense. Despite significant improvements to treatments and survival rates, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In Australia, 58 people receive the same news mum-of-two Aimee Glen did each day. Age is the greatest risk factor and screening is offered to women over 40. However young women should also be aware of their risk, particularly if they have a family history of the disease. Ms Glen was just 31 when she first noticed a lump in her breast and was soon after diagnosed with stage two ER/PR breast cancer. She had no family history but a reminder from the Instagram account Support Your Girls prompted her to do a self-check. She then booked in to see her GP who referred her for an ultrasound at the Geelong breast clinic which was followed by multiple diagnostic tests. "It was all very quick from when I was tested to when I started treatment," Ms Glen tells AAP. "I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy known as 'the red devil' which is very hard-hitting treatment but breast cancer responds well to it." Following this, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy and has recently finished three weeks of daily radiotherapy. "The entire cancer treatment was incredibly expensive but those initial diagnostic tests were a financial stressor which is very difficult for people," she says. So far Ms Glen has spent $1442 and been left $787 out of pocket after Medicare rebates. In the meantime, she has started a petition to make ultrasounds and mammograms free for diagnostic purposes, which has gained nearly 14,000 signatures in two weeks. "There are options to go through the public system but people often have to wait months to get in and sometimes it's not an option if you do have an aggressive cancer," she says. "The petition is gaining a lot of traction, which makes me realise it has affected a lot of women and men, because breast cancer doesn't discriminate and affects a lot of people." So Brave is a charity supporting Australians facing breast cancer and its founder, Rachelle Panitz, fears young women are putting off diagnostic scans due to out-of-pocket cost. They can also have trouble accessing a diagnosis in the first place because the cancer is generally thought to affect older women, she adds. "An initial diagnosis can cost up to $3000 when you factor in all the scans and tests," Ms Panitz says. "Young women are borrowing money from their parents; they may be in the workforce but don't have that spare income." Ms Panitz has met with federal politicians about making access to diagnosis easier and more affordable. "People put (the scans) off and that can lead to worse outcomes. These kinds of considerations are not new but they are exacerbated by the cost of living," she explains. Australia's BreastScreen program is free for women over 40 and women over 50 are invited for a mammogram every two years. There is no evidence to support routinely screening women under 40, unless they are at high risk of developing breast cancer due to genetic mutations, National Breast Cancer Foundation chair in cancer prevention Nehmat Houssami says. "A key message for women, including younger women, but relevant to all women even if they have recently screened, is if you notice a change in your breast ... then please see your family doctor and talk to them about being referred for testing," she says. Changes can include a lump in the breast or a change in the skin. "Medicare covers some of the cost of these tests but unless the service bulk bills there will be out-of-pocket expenses," Professor Houssami says. "So it is possible that some women may not be accessing tests due to out-of-pocket costs." According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, federal, state and territory governments recently undertook a BreastScreen funding review, with the final report now being considered. "The review was a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the BreastScreen Australia program and was completed in mid-2025," a spokesperson says. "The latest evidence on breast cancer screening age range and screening technologies were considered as part of the review."
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Woman who uses wheelchair turned away from mammogram appointment
Advice given to all women between 50 and 74 resonated with Carol Taylor. As a quadriplegic on the other side of 50, she takes a proactive approach to her health. So she recently booked a screening mammogram expecting a simple procedure. It turned out to be anything but. When she made the appointment with Lumus Imaging, a private imaging service on the Gold Coast, she said she explained her disability and let them know she used an electric wheelchair. Just days before the scheduled scan, Ms Taylor said she received a call telling her it had to be cancelled because she wasn't able to stand with assistance. "Standing for me is something I haven't done for 23 years," she said. Ms Taylor acquired her spinal cord injury in a car accident. She is paralysed from her chest down and has paralysed hands, but the lawyer, artist and world's first quadriplegic fashion designer will tell you it doesn't stop her from doing much. Accustomed to advocating for herself, she got on the phone to book the mammogram she knew she was entitled to. With help from her husband, Robert, she attended Breast Screen Queensland's clinic, where she had her scan quite easily. Kirsten Pilatti from Breast Cancer Network Australia said all women deserved access to screening but said women with disability did not always have a positive experience. "This is not the first time we have heard that people with disabilities have felt traumatised, isolated and even shamed with breast screening," she said. Three weeks after her mammogram, Ms Taylor was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. Although aggressive, her cancer was caught early, so with chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments, her prognosis is good. The possible outcome of delaying her mammogram was not lost on her. "Imagine discovering it at stage four," she said. Ms Pilatti said early detection saves lives. Dr Phil Lucas, CEO of Lumus Imaging, said the company takes patient care and accessibility very seriously. He said women who use wheelchairs can have mammograms at all of its sites, but some might have to book at particular locations for other scans, such as ultrasounds. "We are reviewing our screening and service protocols to identify where we can better support people with disabilities who need to undertake imaging services," he said. "As part of that focus, we will deliver training where necessary." Data shows access to cancer screening can be a matter of life or death for people with disability. Research Fellow at Melbourne University's Disability Institute, Dr Yi Yang, analysed global data about cancer rates among people with disability. She said people with disability faced inequalities during the entire process, from screening, through diagnosis and treatment. "What we found for breast cancer is that people with disability are more likely to miss out on breast cancer screening that can help with early detection," she said. "People with disability are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage for breast cancer, which all leads to consistently lower survival rates." BreastScreen Australia, and the state-based programs that deliver the service, all provide information about accessibility for people with disability. They list accessible locations and the ways people can be assisted, including extended appointments, sign language interpreters and allowing support people to accompany patients. However, many also clearly state possible barriers to having a mammogram. Ms Taylor said Australia's breast screen program currently took a "patchwork" approach to offering information and screening to women who use wheelchairs. "That can only result in negative impacts for early detection and survival rates," she said. A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said the BreastScreen Australia National Accreditation Standards required services to meet the needs of women with a disability by ensuring physical access for women in wheelchairs, longer appointments were available and staff were appropriately trained. They also said if a woman with disability was unable to undergo a mammogram, she should be encouraged to discuss other screening options with her GP. A spokesperson for Queensland Health said BreastScreen Queensland strove to reduce barriers for people with disabilities and support their full participation in screening. BreastScreen NSW said women who use a wheelchair could have their mammogram while seated and if their wheelchair was unable to be effectively positioned for the X-ray, they could be transferred to a more suitable wheelchair. Ms Taylor has just completed her fourth round of chemotherapy. She's lost her hair and become acquainted with the fog of "chemo-brain", but she isn't letting it slow her down. Throughout her treatment, she has posted videos online to encourage others to have regular checks.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BreastScreen Australia Density Reporting Rule is a Critical Step for Women says Volpara Health, the Leader in AI-assisted Breast Density Measurement
Volpara software is used to assess the breast density of more than 1 million Australian womenannually WELLINGTON, New Zealand, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Volpara Health, a Lunit a company and global leader in software for the early detection of breast cancer, today applauded the significant advancement in breast health management with BreastScreen Australia's new position on breast density reporting. This new guidance recommends that all BreastScreen services in Australia provide breast density information to clients, enhancing awareness and understanding of this critical risk factor. A Step Toward More Accurate and Personalised Breast Cancer Screening Volpara's Scorecard software is utilised to measure the breast density of over 1 million women annually across Australia, including in BreastScreen Victoria and BreastScreen South Australia. This comprehensive, AI-driven approach supports physicians in making consistent, objective assessments, helping to ensure that breast cancer risk is more accurately evaluated for each patient. Volpara's volumetric breast density assessment software, including its proprietary Volpara® TruDensity™ AI algorithm, provides consistent and precise breast density measurements. Cleared by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), FDA, Health Canada, and CE-marked in Europe, this technology has been validated in more than 400 scientific articles and research abstracts, underscoring its reliability and accuracy. "We've been collaborating with leading clinicians and researchers worldwide for over a decade to make critical information about breast composition and its link to breast cancer more accessible," said Craig Hadfield, CEO, Volpara Health. "The new guidelines from BreastScreen Australia validate our focus on applying tech and AI advancements to breast density and are a significant step forward in enhancing the experience and understanding for women and their healthcare providers. We encourage women to contact their local healthcare provider and ask how they assess breast density." Understanding Breast Density: A Critical Risk Factor Breast density is an important factor in both breast cancer detection and risk assessment. It has been linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, while also making it more challenging to detect cancer through mammography. In Australia, approximately 40% of women have dense breasts, including 12% with extremely dense breasts. As breast density increases, the accuracy of mammography decreases. Research published in Radiology reveals that mammography can miss up to 50% of cancers in women with the densest breast tissue. Since both dense breast tissue and tumours appear white on a mammogram, cancers are often concealed, potentially delaying diagnosis. Studies confirm that early detection rates improve significantly when women with very dense breasts receive additional imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, as part of their regular screening regimen. The Path Forward: Embracing Personalised Screening Breast density information is also integrated into several risk models, which helps identify women at higher risk of breast cancer who may benefit from supplemental screening. Volpara Scorecard is the only commercial automated software validated for use in both the Tyrer-Cuzick 8 and CanRisk (BOADICEA) riskmodels, providing consistent and robust breast density measurements. With this new guidance, Volpara is poised to play an essential role in supporting risk assessment and personalised screening in Australia, further advancing the goal of improving outcomes for women. The importance of personalised screening has also been recognised by other Australian health bodies, with Medicare recently introducing reimbursement for high-risk breast MRI screening based on Tyrer-Cuzick 8 or CanRisk risk assessment. This marks a growing recognition of the need for tailored breast cancer screening strategies that consider individual risk factors, including breast density. About Volpara Health Volpara Health is on a mission to save families from cancer with AI-powered software that helps healthcare providers better understand cancer risk, guide personalized care decisions, and recommend additional imaging and interventions. Used in over 3,500 facilities by more than 9,500 technologists worldwide. Volpara's software impacts nearly 18M patients, supports over 3.6M annual cancer risk assessments, and integrates seamlessly with electronic health records and imaging systems. Volpara helps radiologists quantify dense breast tissue with precision and technologists produce mammograms with optimal positioning, compression, and dose. Volpara software also streamlines operations to ease compliance and accreditation. Volpara, a Lunit company, is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, and has an office in Seattle. Volpara is the trusted partner of leading healthcare institutions globally. For more information, visit Logo - View original content: SOURCE Volpara Health Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
9 News
30-05-2025
- Health
- 9 News
Brisbane clinic offering new pain-free breast screen technology
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Pain-free breast cancer CT scans are now being offered for the first time in Australia. Conventional mammograms require compressing the breast which can be painful, particularly for women with dense breasts. However, Cone Beam Breast CT offers a pain free alternative, and experts using it say it gives superior clarity, particularly for women with dense breasts. Pain-free breast cancer CT scans are now being offered for the first time in Australia. (9News) About a third of Australian women over 50 have dense breasts and about 25 per cent of women under the age of 50 have extremely dense breasts. The new technology is approved by the FDA in the United States with registration pending in Australia. Breast screening patient Belinda Yates got access through the TGA's special access scheme and said it's a completely different experience to mammograms. "Firstly there's no pain associated with the scan... there is no touching of your breast whatsoever," 46-year-old Yates said. "This was advised as a good test for me to have to see a clearer picture." Brisbane Radiology is the first clinic in Australia to use the technology after evaluating 10 years of research overseas. "It is really great for detecting small lesions with women with dense breasts and with complex breasts," Dr Jacqueline Milne said. "I honestly believe that this will change the paradigm for imaging in Australia, particularly for women with dense breasts." A contrast dye injection gives even greater visibility. "We wait two minutes and then the same scan is performed," she said. The scans can also be used to plan surgery to conserve the breast. "Women survive breast cancer now so we don't want to leave deformities," breast and endocrine surgeon Dr Ben Green said. "So having clarity about what tissue I need to remove, what volume of defect will be behind and how I'll fill that can result in less surgery, less need to come back and have further operations," he said. The emerging technology has an out of pocket cost of nearly $300 and is not part of the BreastScreen program, which provides free mammograms for women over 40. But the national body today posted new guidelines recommending for the first time that women are notified about their breast density. Queensland, Tasmania and the territories are yet to roll out the reporting system. Vicki Durston from the Breast Cancer Network wants all states and territories to adopt the standard. "We know 2D mammography can reduce sensitivity down to 64 per cent - so we want to see for those at high risk or those with high breast density - have the options of supplementary screening that is available for all," Durston said. A review by BreastScreen on the latest advances in screening technology is yet to be released. A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said: "At present, there is no consensus on the optimal screening pathway for those with increased mammographic density." However authorities stress mammograms detect the majority of breast cancers in Australia and remain the technology for mass screening for women of all breast densities. "Additional imaging tests are only available outside of the BreastScreen Australia may incur out of pocket costs." Breast Cancer national health Brisbane queensland tasmania CONTACT US
