A Sydney mother of two who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at just 34 years old is calling for urgent reform to Australia's breast screening program, as the Federal Government unveils its most significant overhaul of BreastScreen Australia in decades.

Louisa Samasuo found a lump during a self-examination and received her diagnosis despite having repeatedly asked doctors about beginning mammograms earlier due to a strong family history of the disease. She was told screening was not recommended for her age — a decision she believes cost her dearly.

"I could have been picked up at what you call DCIS or stage zero. And I wouldn't have progressed," she said.

Samasuo has now been cancer-free for two years, but continues to undergo treatment including medically induced menopause, hormone blockers and ongoing monitoring. She remains frustrated that mammograms are still not routinely funded for women under 40.

"Mammograms are still not funded for under 40s. It would have made a world of difference to get it earlier," she said.

What the BreastScreen Australia Overhaul Involves

The Federal Government has released a new 10-year strategic roadmap for BreastScreen Australia, designed to modernise the national program as medical evidence and technology continue to evolve. The program, which has operated since 1991, has detected more than 140,000 breast cancers early and contributed to a significant reduction in deaths from the disease.

This year alone, more than 21,000 Australians are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, with around 3,300 projected to die from it.

Assistant Minister for Health Rebecca White acknowledged the program was performing well but said there was always room to improve.

"Just because something's working really well doesn't mean that you don't look at how you improve it," she said.

Key changes outlined in the framework include:

  • A move toward personalised screening based on individual risk profiles
  • Development of a nationally consistent policy for annual mammograms for women at higher risk
  • Improved screening pathways for women aged 45 to 49
  • Expansion of breast density reporting across all states and territories
  • Greater integration of artificial intelligence alongside radiologists as a second reader

AI and Breast Density Set to Play Bigger Roles

One of the more significant technological shifts in the new framework is the planned use of AI to work alongside radiologists, with the dual goals of improving cancer detection rates and helping ease growing workforce pressures in the sector.

Cancer Australia Medical Director Professor Vivienne Milch highlighted the importance of breast density reporting as a step toward more targeted early detection.

"For those women who have a higher breast density, they're encouraged to see their GP and talk about whether any further investigation is required," she said.

Funding Questions Remain as Advocates Welcome Direction

Breast Cancer Network Australia welcomed the strategic framework but raised concerns about whether the government's $1.3 million commitment would be sufficient to deliver the scale of reform envisioned. The organisation noted that meaningful expansion of screening capacity, workforce growth and the introduction of new technology would all require considerably greater investment.

For women like Samasuo, the direction of change is encouraging — but the pace remains a concern. Her story reflects a broader tension in Australia's approach to breast cancer prevention: a program with a strong track record that advocates say must move faster to reach women at risk before it is too late.

The framework signals an intent to build a more responsive, risk-based system — one that, if adequately funded, could mean fewer women receive a diagnosis as late and as advanced as hers.