From August through to the end of October, Breastscreen NSW Hunter New England aims to screen 13,205 women. The breast screening Mammothon will target as many women as possible who are aged 50-74 years who are either due to screen or haven't had a mammogram in the last two years.

This year marks the 30 year anniversary of the BreastScreen program in the Hunter New England. In its first year of operation in 1989, the service screened about 4000 women.

This proven lifesaving service has since been expanded into a national population based screening program and BreastScreen NSW Hunter New England now screens more than 50,000 women per year.

Currently as many as 260 women in the Hunter New England Local Health District have breast cancer but don't know it because they haven't had a mammogram in the past two years.

Rebecca Delaporte, BreastScreen Hunter New England manager, urges women to join in the Mammothon and make breast screening a priority in their busy lives.

"Breast screening saves lives as it can pick up breast cancer before it can be seen or felt and when treatment is most likely to be successful.

"One in eight women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and nine out of 10 of these women do not have a family history. We encourage women in the Hunter New England region to be proactive about their health, get behind the Mammothon and book a free breast screen without delay."

During the challenge, breast screening will be available at a number of Hunter sites including the centre at Waratah and mobile units at Gloucester, Dungog, Scone, Taree, Singleton, Denman, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens, Belmont, East Maitland, and Beresfield.

In the New England area screening will be available at the Tamworth centre and at mobile units at Wee Waa, Narrabri, Boggabri, Barraba, Bingara, Warialda and Inverell.

If you are aged 50-74 years and due for a mammogram, join the Mammothon and book your screen today. It might just save your life!

Call 13 20 50 or book online now HERE.