In 2013, 127 women were diagnosed, an average of 10 a month.
This compares with Northland, where 147 women were diagnosed in 2014 (12 per month) and MidCentral with 123 in 2014 (10 a month).
In Nelson Marlborough there were 118 in 2014 (9.8 a month) and Hutt Valley 116 in 2014 (9.6 per month) - both have slightly smaller populations.
A Hawke's Bay DHB spokesperson said that sometimes there was a spike in the number diagnosed simply because more people were tested in that particular month.
Other factors included the growing population and the fact we were living longer.
Cancer Society Hawke's Bay manager Trudy Kirk said breast cancer was most common in woman aged 50 to 70 years.
"We do have cases of younger women but it's not common."
She emphasised how important it was for women to have their free mammograms once they reached 45 years.
"There have been 27 per cent fewer deaths from breast cancer since the free screenings were introduced.
"Finding breast cancer early is the key. However there are still 30 per cent of those eligible to have the test that don't do it."
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't knowof a friend of a friend who has been touched by breast cancer.
I asked Trudy if she thought our lifestyles were contributing to the growing number of diagnoses.
Is it our cellphones and our microwaves, the processed food we eat - does this factor in?
"There is no research to back that up," Trudy said.
"But research does show that you can reduce the your risk by living a healthy lifestyle, staying active, a healthy weight, limit alcohol - all this helps."
For those women with the inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, their risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer was greatly increased.
She said the role of the Cancer Society was to support people with all cancers.
"We have a professional and caring support team who work one on one with patients and walk beside them going through treatment and beyond.
"Having someone to talk to is important and we have access to counsellors and a psychiatrist."
The good news is that 90 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive.
So if you know someone who should be having a mammogram, but is afraid to - take her hand and lead the way.
However, don't just leave it to the professionals, ladies. You know your body better than anyone else so make sure you check for changes.
FOOTNOTE: It's volunteer week so here's a big shout out to all you wonderful people who give up your time for charities, sport, community events - the list goes on. To the many amazing groups and volunteers who help our women with cancer - ie Zonta, Women's Institute, Look Good Feel Better to name a few - without you the world would most likely grind to a halt, or at least slow down dramatically.
* Linda Hall is Hawke's Bay Today assistant editor
