When should GPs recommend screening?
BreastScreen Victoria is committed to working with GPs to promote early detection of breast cancer .
Below, you’ll find key information to help guide your patients and determine if a breast screen is right for them.
Who should be screened?
We provide free, 10-minute breast screens every 2 years to women and trans and gender diverse (TGD) people who are:
- Asymptomatic, and
- Aged 50 to 74
Age is the most significant risk factor for breast cancer, with 75% of cases occurring in women aged 50 and over. Evidence also shows the benefits of screening are strongest in this age group.
As such, we urge you to encourage women and TGD people aged 50 to 74 to screen every 2 years. We will also send them regular invitations to attend a free breast screening with us.
Patients who are not aged 50 to 74
People in their 40s and over 74 are encouraged to discuss the risks and benefits of screening with their doctors.
You can then help them determine if it’s the right choice based on their individual circumstances and risk factors.
If your patient has breast symptoms
Our free screens are only for women without breast symptoms.
If your patient has any signs or symptoms of breast cancer – such as lumps or nipple discharge – you should refer them to a diagnostic service for quicker, more targeted results.
Screenings vs diagnostic mammograms
Dr Alia Kaderbhai, GP and Chair of BACGP Breast Medicine Network, explains more about when to recommend a screening versus diagnostic imaging.
Supporting under-screened communities
We are committed to ensuring our services are inclusive and accessible to all eligible Victorians.
To address barriers that may prevent some communities from attending a breast screen, we run targeted programs for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Culturally and linguistically diverse groups
- LGBTIQA+ people
- People with disabilities
- Women from low socio-economic,
- Regional and rural communities
We welcome your help in promoting our services to these groups and encouraging participation in breast screening.
Breast screening for trans and gender-diverse people
Trans and gender-diverse (TGD) people are an under-screened population with a unique set of factors that may affect their risk.
If you have a TGD patient, we urge you to recommend screening every 2 years in line with screening recommendations for cis women.
At BreastScreen Victoria, we provide free screens to all TGD people over the age of 50.
What happens next?
Your patient can book their breast screen with us on this website or by calling 13 20 50.
Screening results will be available within 2 to 4 weeks, and your patient can choose to access the results electronically. A copy of the results will also be sent electronically to you or their nominated GP.
At least 2 radiologists review all screening results.
Some patients are asked back for further tests. If cancer is detected, they will be referred back to their GP or a specialist breast clinic to discuss treatment options.
It’s important to note that we only report on signs of breast cancer and not other changes or lumps that are determined benign or non-cancerous. This includes cysts that have remained the same since the patient’s last screen.
Read about supporting patients through further tests and diagnosis
What if my patient has ...
If your patient was diagnosed with breast cancer or DCIS more than 5 years ago, they can attend our annual screening with their treating doctor’s approval.
These clients are not automatically re-invited to join the BreastScreen Victoria program. They must re-enrol by calling us on 13 20 50.
Read about supporting patients with a previous breast cancer diagnosis
Lobular carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal hyperplasia or atypical lobular hyperplasia of the breast
The risk of developing breast cancer increases after the diagnosis of certain benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions. These include:
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)
- Atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)
Clients with these conditions will be invited for annual screening up to the age of 74.
If your patient is diagnosed with any of these conditions, we strongly recommend you discuss ongoing management with them, including an annual physical examination.
Patients with implants can still have a breast screen.. But they should speak to their doctor about their implants before attending a screen.
We do not investigate or diagnose conditions associated with breast implants. If the screening image shows a possible implant abnormality, we will not be able to notify the patient or their GP.
Patients with symptoms – such as unusual pain, breast lumps or nipple discharge – should not be referred for a screening with BreastScreen Victoria.
Instead, you should refer them to a diagnostic service for quicker and more targeted investigation.
Referring symptomatic patients to a screening service may delay diagnosis and increase anxiety.
Also, even if their breast screen shows no signs of breast cancer, they will still need a full clinical assessment to investigate the breast symptoms.
Read the Cancer Australia Guidelines on how to manage symptomatic patients
We collect information about the patient’s family history of breast and ovarian cancer so we can provide them with better care. However this does not include all the other factors that may increase or decrease their risk of breast cancer.
If your patient has family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, we strongly recommend that you run a comprehensive clinical assessment. If the assessment confirms a high-risk status, refer them to a specialised clinic.
Depending on their age and risk level, patients with increased risk may be invited for annual screening.
Learn more about family history of breast and ovarian cancer
Use Cancer Australia's iPrevent tool for familial risk assessment