Have you signed up for your free mammogram?

Michelle Quinn next to a mammogram machine. Photo / Alecia Rousseau

Having your breasts checked for cancer as early as possible may save your life.

That's the message being sent to all women, especially those between the ages of 45 and 69, from Breastscreen Coast to Coast.

The organisation is encouraging women in the district to register to have their first mammogram, and become part of their regular screening programme.

Primary Care Nurse co-ordinator Michelle Quinn said they currently had fewer new enrolments and were wanting more women to take part.

"A lot of women don't know they can actually self-enrol and assume their GP will do it automatically ... we have now introduced an electronic referral system so if they let their GP know they want to enrol, they can do it there and the information comes to us."

Breast Screening allows specialist doctors to pick up lumps or abnormalities as small as 2mm, before they can be physically felt by women checking their own breasts.

Mrs Quinn said having a mammogram every two years significantly reduced your chance of death, and treatments associated with breast cancer.

"And it also provides reassurance because most women will not have breast cancer."

A surprising factor is that many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, do not have it in their family history.

"We need to change people's thinking around this," Mrs Quinn said.

"All it takes is doing something relatively quick that can save your life."

For mammograms to be effective, they need to be repeated every two years.

"We have what we call a regular screening programme and this allows us to notice even subtle changes in the breast.

"It is the most reliable way of checking."

BreastScreen Coast to Coast covers a large area, stretching from Gisborne down to Otaki.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with more than 600 dying each year as a result.

Mammograms are free for those aged 45 to 69 as they are more at risk than their younger counterparts.

The appointment can take up to 30 minutes and patients are welcome to come in a group or with friends.

- To enrol or find out more, call 0800 270 200.