More than 1500 Victorian women may have breast cancer but don't know it.
That's the alarming statistic from BreastScreen Victoria which reveals 46 per cent of women, aged 50-to-74, aren't having regular screenings.
But there is some good news, a record 267,589 women had the free breast cancer screening provided by the organisation in the last financial year, data released on Wednesday reveals.
Women in Mornington, Nepean, Niddrie, St Albans and Warrandyte electorates had the highest participation rates in the state.
Yet women in Benambra, Footscray, Cranbourne, Williamstown and Broadmeadows needed to lift their involvement in the program to potentially save lives.
Breast cancer is the second most common new cancer in Victoria with 4524 women diagnosed in 2017 and 779 dying from the disease.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has called on women over 50 to get the free check every two years as it "may save your life or the life of someone you love".
Australian Associated Press
