We provide breast screening for women who haven’t noticed any changes to their breasts. It’s most effective for women aged 50 to 74. Women in their 40s and 75 years and over are also eligible to have a breast screen.
Are you aged 50 to 74?
You’re strongly encouraged to have a breast screen.
Breast screening is mostly for women aged 50 to74 because it’s been shown to have the greatest benefit for this age group. About 80% of breast cancers occur in women over 50.
If you haven’t had a breast screen with us by the time you turn 50, we’ll send you an invitation to start screening. You can also make an appointment if you don't have an invitation.
Are you aged 40 to 49 or 75 and over?
You’re eligible to have a breast screen.
There are different risks and benefits of breast screening for women in these age groups. You should talk to your doctor first to find out if breast screening is right for you.
Are you under 40?
If you’re under 40, you’re not eligible for a breast screen with BreastScreen Queensland.
Research shows that breast screening isn’t effective for women under 40 .
Have you noticed any changes to your breasts?
We encourage all women to be aware of the normal look and feel of their breasts. If you’ve noticed any breast changes that concern you, speak to your doctor first. This will help make sure you get the most appropriate care as soon as possible.
Read more about signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
Can I screen if I ...
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No
If you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant you won’t be able to have a breast screen. This is because of the possible risk of radiation to your baby.
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Yes
Breast screening is safe for women who are breastfeeding but it may be more uncomfortable than usual. This is because breasts that contain milk can be more sensitive.
Breasts that contain milk are also more dense than usual. Dense breasts make it harder to see breast cancer on a screening mammogram. This is because both dense breast tissue and breast cancers can appear white on a mammogram.
Breast screens are still the best way of finding breast cancers in dense breasts.
If you’re breastfeeding, you should plan to breastfeed or express milk just before your breast screen appointment so your breasts are as empty as possible. This will avoid delays at your appointment. You can ask for the breast screen to be stopped if it’s too uncomfortable.
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Yes
Most women with breast implants can have breast screens but the procedure will be different and there are more risks involved.
Your appointment will be longer because more images will need to be taken. This also means that you'll be exposed to more radiation from the X-rays.
Your implants will need to be moved to take the pictures. This can make the breast screen more uncomfortable. Even when implants are moved, they can still hide small cancers on breast screens. This means that a cancer could be present but can't be seen on the X-rays.
There's a small chance that screening will change the shape of your breasts by dispersing the fibrous capsules that often grow around breast implants. Your breasts might be affected differently.
The radiographer will try to use minimal pressure, but there's a very small chance that the pressure of the breast screening machine will cause your implants to rupture.
If you have breast implants and decide to have a breast screen, you’ll need to sign a special consent form to show that you understand the risks.
Our staff are not able to assess your implants. If you have any concerns about your breast implants, you should see your doctor.
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Yes
We usually only screen women who have had breast cancer if it’s been 5 years or more since your diagnosis. If it’s been less than 5 years since your diagnosis and you would like to have a breast screen with us, please contact your doctor or breast cancer specialist first.
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Yes
We provide breast screening to people who were assigned female at birth, present or identify as female.
If you're not eligible for a Medicare card
If you’re not eligible for a Medicare card, you may have to pay for our services. Call us on 13 20 50 to find out more.
Read more about Medicare eligibility and how to enrol on Services Australia website.
Last updated: July 2026