Breast cancer in the Waitematā region:
- North Shore Hospital is home to the region’s Diagnostic Breast Service, the busiest breast service in New Zealand
- More than 630,000 people live in the region, NZ’s largest DHB
- Up to 100 patients are referred to the service weekly from across the North Shore, West Auckland and Rodney
- Services are currently delivered over a number of sites
- Referrals have grown 100% since 2012
- Approximately 10% of those referred will be diagnosed with cancer, that’s up to 10 people a week
- 70% of those diagnosed will be aged 50+
- 90-95% will have no breast cancer in the family
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the region