May 12, 2023
Age challenge in Māori breast screen battle
The Breast Cancer Foundation says a new breast screening action plan needs to include ambitious targets for Māori and Pacific women.
The plan to be developed by Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora is in response to reports which identified major problems including delays of up to nine months in screenings and systemic bias against Maori and Pacific women.
Foundation chief executive chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner says early detection is the best way to increase the chances of survival.
She says the system needs to acknowledge Māori and Pasifika women present with breast cancer at an earlier age.
Ah-Leen Rayner says there also needs to be a lot more done about disparities in breast screening access between the major centres and the regions.