Problem:

Breast cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand does not benefit all women equally. Many cancers are still found outside the national screening programme, and Māori and Pacific women can face delays in diagnosis and treatment. This shows the need for better evidence to help improve screening so it works fairly and effectively for everyone.

Project:

This project builds on earlier research funded by Breast Cancer Cure. Researchers will use a computer model to test different breast cancer screening options, such as starting screening at a younger age or changing how often it happens. The model will use New Zealand data and examine how different groups of women may be affected.

Outcome:

The research will show how different screening options could affect women’s health, the cost to the health system, and how practical these changes would be to introduce.

Future:

The project will also develop an easy-to-use online tool that allows decision-makers to explore different screening scenarios and understand their possible benefits, costs, and trade-offs as new evidence becomes available.