2017

McGRATH BREAST
HEALTH INDEX
A report into breast health understanding
among women in Australia
McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX
FOREWORD
Breast awareness is a term thats used a lot, particularly
around October, which is known internationally as
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many women consider
themselves breast aware, without giving much thought
to what that actually means. Jane McGrath was my best
friend, and one of her aims in setting up the Foundation
was to increase breast awareness in Australia, but
especially in young women.
At the McGrath Foundation were determined to make
real change in the community. This is the second year of
the McGrath Breast Health Index a measure of what
were calling breastpertise. Breastpertise, or good breast
health understanding, measures four key criteria that
can effect real change to a womans (and mens) health
outcomes. The Index measures awareness of course, but
also confidence, knowledge and behaviour. These are
defined broadly as:
How breast aware does a woman consider
herself to be?
How confident is a woman that shell be
able to identify changes in her breast?
Does she know the risk factors for breast
cancer, and can she accurately recognise
myths about causes of the disease?
What is her behaviour, or how frequently is
she checking her breasts for changes?
While self-checking cant prevent breast cancer, it can
alert a woman (or a man) to changes in their body
that should be checked out by a medical professional.
If breast cancer is diagnosed and treated in its early
stages, the survival rates are very good. This is where
breastpertise becomes more important than just breast
awareness. This is what the McGrath Foundation is
measuring, year-on-year, and will use to inform our
ongoing breast health education programme.
My big dream, my pipe dream, would be for every
family in Australia to have access to a breast care
nurse and that one day the next generation of
Aussies our children will know the importance of
checking their breasts and being vigilant and looking
after themselves because I dont want our daughters
growing up thinking, breast cancer cant happen to
me, because I was 31 and I know that it can happen.
- Jane McGrath
For the second year running the results reveal a
disconnect between belief and reality when it comes to
the nations breast health. Almost three quarters (73%)
of Australian women believe they are breast aware, yet
fewer than one in five (16%) fulfil the four criteria to be
classified a breastpert.
As a mother though, I found this years results
particularly heartening as they show the importance
of talking to your daughters about breast health,
with women who first learnt about the importance of
breast health from their mother more likely to check
their breasts regularly. Interestingly, women who have
spoken to their mother about both breast awareness and
puberty are significantly more likely to qualify for all four
index criteria (26% vs 16% overall).
I know I have always instilled in my daughters the
importance of good breast health understanding and I
encourage other parents to do the same.
We like to say, If you grow them, know them! While
this research focuses on women, the outcomes are
applicable to all people in Australia although its
primarily a disease that affects women, around 150 men
are diagnosed with breast cancer each year as well.
This research shows that knowing your breasts is a lot
more than simply being breast aware. We hope that this
research helps people across Australia take responsibility
for their breast health educate themselves, and have
the right conversations, to build a new generation of
breastperts.
TRACY BEVAN
Ambassador & Director
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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

The McGrath Breast Health

Index measures four key criteria
that make up what were calling
breastpertise among women in
Australia:

#1
AWARENESS
#2
CONFIDENCE
#3
KNOWLEDGE
#4
BEHAVIOUR
Do they consider Are they confident in their Are they knowledgeable Are they checking their
themselves aware of their ability to detect changes about the risk factors for breasts frequently enough
breast health? in their breasts? breast cancer? to detect changes?

The fieldwork was carried out by AMR from 17

30 May 2017, with responses collected via online
interview. The total sample size was 1,288, consisting
of 1,115 Australian women aged 16+ and an
additional boost of 102 women with daughters aged
10 or older. The total sample included 485 women
with a daughter aged at least 10 years. Quotas were
set to ensure the sample is nationally representative
in terms of age and location. Weighting was applied
to both the nationally representative sample and the
boost of mothers with daughters aged 10+ to adjust
for this representativeness.

Results were analysed across a range of

demographic and behavioural traits.

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

RESEARCH FINDINGS
The research aims to gain a robust and thorough
understanding of the factors impacting on good breast
health understanding, or breastpertise, and to identify
common factors that contribute to women scoring
higher (or lower) on the McGrath Breast Health Index. By
conducting this research annually, over time the McGrath
Foundation will be able to offer people in Australia a clear
view of trends in breastpertise and ideally, assess this
against trends in screening and early diagnosis.
A series of questions were asked about Awareness,
Confidence, Knowledge and Behaviour in terms of
breast health, which were then supplemented by questions
relating to age, geography, parental status and experience
with breast health education. This enabled us to draw
conclusions about the characteristics that are more or less
likely to make women greater breastperts.
The key findings reveal that, although the majority of
women consider themselves to have good or very good
breast awareness, fewer than one in five fulfilled all four
criteria to be considered a breastpert. This is similar to the
2016 results, both in overall Index outcome and for each of
the individual criteria.
A key point of note is that the Knowledge criteria changed
in 2017. The changes reflect the nature of ongoing
research and understanding of cancer risk factors, and it
is anticipated that this section will change from time to
time in years to come to reflect updated, evidence-based
information.

BREAST CANCER FACTORS AND NON - RISK FACTORS

2016
6 RISK FACTORS 10 NON -RISK FACTORS
Correctly identify 4 or more of Does not incorrectly identify
the below as risk factors: 5 or more of the below as risk
factors:
2017
11 RISK FACTORS 8 NON -RISK FACTORS
Correctly identify 6 or more of Does not incorrectly identify
the below as risk factors: 5 or more of the below as risk
factors:

Strong family history of breast Using deodorant Strong family history of breast Using deodorant
cancer cancer or ovarian cancer
Wearing an underwire bra Wearing an underwire bra
Being a woman Being a woman
Bumping or bruising the breast Bumping or bruising the breast
Growing older Growing older
Topless sunbathing Topless sunbathing
Being a smoker Tobacco smoke
Implants & breast reductions Implants & breast reductions
Drinking alcohol Drinking alcohol
Giving birth Child bearing
Starting menstruation early, or Starting menstruation early, or
starting menopause late Breastfeeding starting menopause late Breastfeeding
Having large breasts Being overweight after Having large breasts
Having a nipple piercing menopause

Sleeping in a bra Taking the contraceptive pill

Not being physically active
Previous breast condition (e.g.
DCIS or LCIS)
Using combined hormone
replacement therapy

Non risk factors removed in 2017 Risk factors added in 2017

It is also worth noting that although having a nipple piercing and sleeping in a bra have been removed from the list of non-
risk factors, there is no evidence to suggest that these activities are risk factors for developing breast cancer simply that
Cancer Australia has not come across any research to show that they are not risk factors.

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

As in 2016, in 2017 questions were asked about parental

status and exposure to education about breast health. In
2017, this was expanded to understand how conversations
about puberty might have also impacted breastpertise.

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDED:

Women who have spoken to their mother about both
breast awareness and puberty are significantly more
like to qualify for the Awareness, Behaviour, and
Knowledge criteria.
The source of where women first learnt about the
importance of breast awareness impacts Behaviour
the most; women who first learnt from their mother are
more likely to check their breasts regularly. They are
also more likely to fall into the top 2 categories in the
Index (i.e. meet 3 or 4 criteria).
There is a relationship between going to the doctor with
a breast issue and being breast aware and confident
that you could detect a change in your breast; those
who have been to the doctor about an issue with
their breasts are more likely to consider themselves
breast aware and confident, and conversely those who
consider themselves to be breast aware and confident
are more likely to have been to the doctor. Women who
qualify for more of the Index criteria are more likely to
have been to the doctor with a breast issue.

16%
73% Only 16% of women fulfil all four
criteria: awareness, confidence,
26%
knowledge, behaviour
73% of women consider 26% of women who spoke to
themselves to be somewhat or their mother about both breast
very breast aware awareness and puberty could be
considered breastperts

Women who first learnt about breast awareness

from their mother are more likely to check their
breasts regularly

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

THE MCGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

The McGrath Breast Health Index uses the combination of four criteria Awareness,
Confidence, Knowledge and Behaviour to create an overall Breast Health Index.

The definitions used are as follows:

QUESTION: INCLUDED IN THE INDEX:

#1
AWARENESS
Being breast aware is about knowing how your
breasts look and feel, and knowing what is normal
Very breast aware
Somewhat breast aware
for you. To what extent would you consider yourself
to be breast aware?

QUESTION: INCLUDED IN THE INDEX:

#2
CONFIDENCE
How confident are you that you would be able to Very confident
detect a change in your breast? Somewhat confident

QUESTION:

#3
KNOWLEDGE
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the following will make a person more susceptible
to developing breast cancer?

INCLUDED IN THE INDEX:

Correctly identify six or more of the below as risk factors: AND does not identify four or more of the
below [non-risk factors] as risk factors:
Strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
Being a woman Using deodorant

Growing older Wearing an underwire bra

Tobacco smoke Bumping or bruising the breast

Drinking alcohol Topless sunbathing

Starting menstruation early, or menopause late Implants and breast reductions

Being overweight after menopause Child bearing

Taking the contraceptive pill Breastfeeding

Not being physically active Having large breasts.

Previous breast condition (e.g. DCIS or LCIS)

Using combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

QUESTION: INCLUDED IN THE INDEX:

#4
BEHAVIOUR
How often would you say you examine your breasts,
including feeling for lumps or changes?
Once a day
Once a week
Once a fortnight
Once a month

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

The McGrath Breast Health Index

is calculated by identifying the
percentage of women qualifying
for all four criteria:

#1
AWARENESS
#2
CONFIDENCE
#3
KNOWLEDGE
#4
BEHAVIOUR

2017 Index - % qualifying for number of criteria

13% 16% 23% 33% 16%

0 CRITERIA 1 CRITERIA 2 CRITERIA 3 CRITERIA 4 CRITERIA

The overall results are very similar to those seen in the

first McGrath Breast Health Index in 2016. Only 16% of
women in Australia have a high level of breast health
understanding. However, if the answers to the questions
on Awareness and Confidence are limited only to those
answering very, the percentage drops to only around 2%.

Almost three quarters (73%) consider themselves

somewhat or very breast aware, although levels of
Confidence (around 60%), Behaviour (52%) and
Fewer than one in
Knowledge (around 40%) were significantly lower.
five (16%) women
With only 16% fulfilling all criteria in 2017, there remains a
huge divide in the breast health understanding of women have a high level
in Australia. Although a significant number are breast
aware, many of these people are lacking the confidence of breast health
to accurately detect changes, knowledge of risk factors
for breast cancer, or are not checking their breasts understanding
regularly enough to make a real difference to their health
outcomes.

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX
COMPARISON OF 2016 AND 2017 RESULTS
McGrath Breast Health Index - % of Australian women who qualify for each criteria
#1 Awareness
#2 Self Confidence
#4 Behaviour
#3 Knowledge 39%
40%
While the results from 2017 did show some minor
differences in percentages of the groups qualifying for
criteria, the patterns are similar, and there were very
few statistically significant differences, highlighting a
consistency across both years. Both years results show
that knowledge of risk factors is low, as is confidence
in being able to detect changes. As the Foundations
education programme addresses this divide in breast
health understanding, in time, significant trends should
become apparent.
73%
73%
62%
59%
52%
52%
2016 2017
The research examined other factors that may contribute
to breastpertise, including whether respondents had
daughters older than 10 years (expecting that they may
have had conversations about body image, health and
changes through puberty), whether respondents had
conversations with their own mothers about breast
health, and whether they had personal experience of
breast cancer either themselves, or someone they know,
being diagnosed with breast cancer.
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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

Index criteria among those who have been to the doctor with a breast issue

#1 Awareness 73%
84%

#2 Self Confidence 59%

67%

#4 Behaviour 52%
57%

#3 Knowledge 40%
43%

Total Have been to the doctor about a breast issue

Significantly different to Total sample at 95% confidence level

Women who had a personal experience of a breast issue

themselves and had seen a doctor were more likely to
consider themselves breast aware and confident that they
could detect changes in their breasts than those who hadnt.
Women who qualify for more of the Index criteria are more
likely to have been to a doctor with a breast issue. Women
who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer or know
someone who has been were less likely to meet all four Index
criteria (12%) compared to the general population (16%).
McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTHER

DAUGHTER CONVERSATIONS
The 2016 results indicated that although around half of
all women believed that mothers were best placed to first
raise breast health awareness, only a quarter had had
any such conversation and only 12% had had their first
conversation about breast awareness with their mother.
This was confirmed in the 2017 research, although in 2017
additional questions about conversations specifically on
puberty were added.
Women who have had conversations with their
mother about both breast awareness and puberty
are significantly more likely to qualify for the
McGrath Breast Health Index.
Specifically, women who have had a conversation with
their mother about both breast awareness and puberty
are significantly more likely to meet the Awareness,
Knowledge and Behaviour criteria.

Index criteria among those who have had a conversation

with their mother about breast awareness and puberty
McGrath Breast
Health Index (Total) 13% 16% 23% 33% 16%

Did not speak to mother

about breast awareness or 16% 17% 23% 30% 14%
puberty

Spoke to mother about

breast awareness 6% 17% 23% 46% 9%
(but not puberty)

Spoke to mother about

puberty 11% 16% 26% 29% 18%
(but not breast awareness)

Spoke to mother about

both breast awareness and 5% 11% 18% 40% 26%
puberty

0 criteria 1 criteria 2 criteria 3 criteria 4 criteria

Significantly different to Total sample at 95% confidence level

Index - % qualifying for number of criteria

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

Women who first learnt about breast awareness from their mother (or female
guardian) were more likely than those who learnt from the media to meet three
or four criteria of the McGrath Breast Health Index.

Where women first learn about breast awareness has an impact on the
Behaviour criteria more than any other. Women who first learnt of the
importance of being breast aware from their mothers are more likely to check
their breasts regularly, while those who learnt from the media are less likely.

McGrath Breast Health Index by where women first

learnt about the importance of breast awareness

McGrath Breast Index (Total) 16%

A doctor or nurse 16%

The media 14%

Mother / female guardian 20%

% who qualify for each individual criterion

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
In the James family, Mum Belinda had always been a
proactive breast checker, and after discovering a lump at
the age of 44, made it a priority to discuss breast health
with her two daughters.
After the diagnosis of breast cancer Belinda set up her
teenaged daughters, Charlotte and Olivia, with a plan to
look after their breast health well into the future.
At the time, I didnt know what was going to happen
to me and I wanted my girls to be taken care of, and
to be on the lookout for themselves, no matter what
happened.
With the support of her McGrath Breast Care Nurse,
Elaine, Belinda worked with her physician to create a
recommended long term plan of action for her daughters,
then aged 16 and 18. The plan includes regular checks,
knowing and acting on the risk factors for breast cancer
and a plan to commence ultrasounds and mammograms
10 years before they reach the age their mother was
when she was diagnosed.
Now in their mid-twenties, seven years after their
Mums initial diagnosis, breast health understanding is
something Charlotte and Olivia are very aware of, and
they continue taking the steps laid out by their doctor to
protect their long term health and wellbeing.
McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

QUESTION
The four criteria of Being breast aware is
about knowing how your
the McGrath Breast breasts look and feel, and
Health Index knowing what is normal for
you. To what extent would
you consider yourself to be
breast aware?
#1
AWARENESS

AWARENESS
Almost three quarters of women in Australia considered
Women who consider themselves
themselves to be somewhat or very breast aware, which
is a replication of the results in 2016. Among 20-40 year
Breast Aware
olds, there was a significant increase in the number of 2017 2016
women who consider themselves breast aware.
16-19 yrs 50% 67%
Only half of those aged 16 to 19 consider themselves to
be breast aware, which is both significantly lower than
the total population and a significant decline compared
20-30 yrs 67% 60%
with 2016 for this age group. However, it is possible that
this is an anomaly, as patterns across the other age 31-40 yrs 70% 64%
groups remain similar over the two years. This will be
reviewed in years three and four to determine whether 41-50 yrs 75% 73%
there is a trend, and the factors that might contribute to
this.
51-60 yrs 79% 81%
Women with daughters aged 10 years or older
61 yrs and over 80% 85%
were significantly more likely than the total
sample to consider themselves breast aware.
Significantly different to Total
sample at 95% confidence level

Significantly different to 2016 at

95% confidence level

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

QUESTION
How confident are
you that you would
be able to detect
a change in your
breasts?
#2
CONFIDENCE

CONFIDENCE
Around 60% of women feel confident that they would
be able to detect a change in their breasts, on par with Women who consider themselves Confident
the 2016 results. Similar to self-classification of breast
awareness, women aged 16-19 years are the least likely 2017 2016
to consider themselves confident. Women aged 61 or
more are most likely to consider themselves confident, Live in capital city 58% 60%
which may also reflect the findings that showed women
who had experienced a breast issue and seen a doctor Live in non-capital 60% 66%
about it considered themselves more confident. city
No significant differences were seen by state or other
demographics other than once again, women with Have a 63% 64%
daughters aged 10 or more were more likely to consider daughter(s) 10-19
themselves confident in detecting changes. Interestingly,
across 2016 and 2017 combined, women outside of Have a 68% 69%
capital cities were more likely to consider themselves
daughter(s) 10+
confident than their metropolitan counterparts.

Significantly different to 2016 at

95% confidence level

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

QUESTION
To what extent do you
agree or disagree that
the following will make a
person more susceptible
to developing breast
cancer?
#3
KNOWLEDGE

KNOWLEDGE
Respondents were provided with a list of 19 possible risk factors, of which 11 have scientific evidence and are accepted risk
factors for developing breast cancer. The remaining eight were incorrect or myths. To qualify for the Knowledge criteria of
the Index, women had to correctly identify six or more of the 11 accepted risk factors, AND not incorrectly identify four or
more of the non-risk factors as risk factors.

Only around one in 20 women in Australia correctly

The risk factors include: identified all 11 risk factors, with only about 20% of
women knowing that starting menstruation earlier or
#1 Strong family history of breast cancer or menopause later was a risk factor for developing breast
ovarian cancer cancer.

#2 Being a woman Incorrectly identifying non-risk factors as risk

factors
#3 Growing older
A substantial number of women incorrectly identified
#4 Tobacco smoke known myths as risks for developing breast cancer,
indicating a significant divide in the knowledge of women
#5 Drinking alcohol in Australia and indicating genuine need for greater
education in this area.
#6 Starting menstruation early, or starting
menopause late 40% incorrectly thought that having breast implants or a
breast reduction was a risk factor for developing breast
#7 Being overweight after menopause cancer, and 35% believed topless sunbathing could cause
breast cancer. While theres no evidence to suggest topless
#8 Taking the contraceptive pill* sunbathing causes breast cancer, sunbathing is a known
risk factor for skin cancer so should be avoided.
#9 Not being physically active
Almost one in five believed that using deodorant causes
#10 Previous breast condition (e.g. DCIS or LCIS) breast cancer, and one in six that wearing an underwire
bra is a risk factor.
#11 Using combined hormone replacement
therapy For more information on risk factors for breast cancer,
visit Cancer Australias risk calculator:
https://breastcancerrisk.canceraustralia.gov.au/risk-factors

*The risk diminishes after a woman stops taking the

pill, however that was not included in the survey

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

QUESTION
How often would
you say you examine
your breasts,
including feeling for
#4 lumps or changes?
BEHAVIOUR

BEHAVIOUR
Around half of all Australian women check their breasts at least once a month, which is consistent with the 2016 results.
Interestingly, there are still more women who consider themselves confident that they could detect a change in their
breasts (59%) than actually do check their breasts regularly (52%). This pattern is also consistent with 2016.

More than 25% check their breasts less than once a year or have never checked their breasts.

How often do Australian women examine their breasts?

Total %
% do not check regularly % check regularly check regularly

2017 16% 11% 22% 33% 19% 52%

2016 16% 12% 20% 33% 19% 52%

Every 6 or 12 months Less often than once a year

Never/Not sure Once a fortnight or monthly At least once a week

Of those who dont check their breasts regularly,

the most common reasons were:

33% 32% 28%

It never occurred to them to They dont know how to They forget to examine
examine their breasts examine their breasts their breasts

Women who are 40 years or younger are significantly more likely to say they
dont examine their breasts because they dont know how.

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

Less than a quarter

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT of Australian
BREASTPERTISE women have had a
conversation with their
As in 2016, women overwhelmingly believe that mothers
are best placed to first educate young women on the
mothers about
importance of breast health. Half of all respondents breast awareness
agreed with this view, compared with 30% believing a
healthcare professional was the best person to initiate
that conversation.

Despite this, less than a quarter of Australian women

have had a conversation with their mothers about breast
awareness. Generally, the younger a woman is the more
likely she is to have had such a conversation.

Conversations with mother by age

16-19yrs 20-30yrs 31-40yrs 41-50yrs 51-60yrs 61yrs+

Menstruation 57% 68% 61% 54% 58% 48% 56%

Table manners 48% 51% 40% 39% 48% 50% 60%

Your choice of clothing/ 37% 53% 38% 36% 37% 30% 37%
hairstyles
Puberty 35% 52% 43% 33% 36% 30% 25%

Alcohol/drugs 29% 59% 38% 24% 29% 23% 20%

Sun safety 29% 49% 37% 33% 31% 21% 16%

Sex/sexual health 27% 38% 36% 32% 28% 17% 20%

Your choice of partner 26% 26% 31% 27% 28% 16% 28%

Pap smears 23% 26% 30% 30% 28% 18% 11%

Breast awareness 22% 26% 31% 28% 26% 13% 10%

Drink driving 19% 28% 29% 21% 19% 11% 12%

None of the above 20% 8% 15% 23% 19% 29% 23%

Significantly different to Total

sample at 95% confidence level

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

CONVERSATIONS AT THE
SAME TIME AS PUBERTY
For the first time in 2017 questions were asked
specifically about conversations on puberty. Of the
population, 14% have had a conversation with their
mother about both breast health and puberty; in a
quarter of these cases the conversation happened at the
same time.
This indicates an opportunity to start bridging the
knowledge divide in breast health understanding by
facilitating and encouraging conversations between
mums and daughters about breast awareness and
puberty.

Reviewing this data against the McGrath Breast Health

Index, women who have had conversations with their
mother about both breast awareness and puberty are
significantly more likely than the total population to
score highly in the criteria of Awareness, Behaviour
and Knowledge.

Index criteria among those who have had a conversation with their
mother about breast awareness and puberty
% who qualify for each individual criterion

Awareness 73%
85%

Self Confidence 59%

67%

Behaviour
52%
70%

Knowledge
40%
50%

2016 2017

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

There is a slight skew towards breast awareness being

Women who have had a conversation with
a topic for older teenagers compared to puberty. Most
women (85%) think 8-13 years is the appropriate age to talk their mother about breast awareness
about puberty, with 71% identifying 10-15 as the best age 2017 2016
to talk about breast awareness.
16-19 yrs 26% 35%
The majority of women (84%) think its appropriate to
discuss breast awareness as part of the conversation
20-30 yrs 31% 30%
on puberty (despite so few women having had this
conversation as daughters, themselves). Almost two
thirds (62%) think young women arent learning about 31-40 yrs 28% 31%
breast awareness early enough, with a little less than half
believing that young women arent learning about puberty 41-50 yrs 26% 24%
early enough.
51-60 yrs 13% 20%
As seen in 2016, a generational shift is taking place.
Almost half (48%) of mothers with daughters aged 10 or
older have had a conversation with their daughter about 61 yrs and over 10% 17%
breast awareness, despite that, only 22% of women have
had this conversation with their mother.
Significantly different to Total
sample at 95% confidence level

Significantly different to 2016 at

95% confidence level

Views on talking to young women about breast awareness

It is appropriate to talk to young women about

breast awareness as part of the conversation 84%
about puberty

Young women are not learning about breast

awareness early enough 62%

Young women are not learning about

puberty early enough 47%

Young women have enough to deal with when they

are going through puberty, they shouldnt have to 25%
also think about breast health at this age

The results of the 2017 McGrath Breast Health Index highlight again
the importance of conversations between mothers and daughters
about their breast health.

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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX
CONCLUSION
The McGrath Breast Health Index once again reveals
the importance of looking beyond breast awareness,
to the other factors that contribute to breastpertise, or
good breast health understanding, and ultimately better
health outcomes. Confidence that women (and men) will
recognise changes in their breasts, knowledge of the risk
factors for developing breast cancer, and behaviour in
terms of how regularly women self-examine their breasts
are equally important.
The 2017 results are only the second year of the McGrath
Breast Health Index. Yet this years results both confirm
the disconnect in breast health understanding among
women in Australia, and that mothers have a crucial role
to play in educating the next generation.
1
Aksglaede, L., Sorensen, K., Petersen, J.H., Skakkebaek, N.E., Juul, A., 2009,
Recent decline in age at breast development: the Copenhagen puberty study,
Pediatrics, May 2009, Vol 123, Iss 5
Crucially, women who have had conversations with their
mothers about both breast awareness and puberty
are more likely to score highly on the Index than any
other group. With studies showing the onset of puberty
occurring earlier than before in some cases1, its crucial
that age-appropriate conversations about breast health,
and changes in the body (including the breasts) are
considered when having discussions about puberty.
With the McGrath Breast Health Index highlighting that
in 2017 only 16% of women in Australia can be considered
breastperts, the challenge is to move the population
closer to being breastperts over time. Recognising that
awareness is the most common factor acknowledged
by women in Australia indicates that education needs
to focus on building confidence, increasing knowledge
and improving behaviour. The need to build an accurate
knowledge base of risk factors for breast cancer is
of obvious importance. Over the years, the Index will
provide an accurate tracking measure on breastpertise in
Australia.
At the McGrath Foundation, our mission is supporting
people with breast cancer by providing McGrath Breast
Care Nurses in communities across the country, and
encouraging people to understand more about their
breast health, so they can identify any changes in their
breasts early and seek advice from their GP.
The McGrath Breast Health Index helps
us measure and track that, and helps us
achieve Jane McGraths vision.
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McGRATH BREAST HEALTH INDEX

TOGETHER,
WE CAN
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE

ABN 23 116 566 624

54 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065

PO Box 471, St Leonards NSW 1590

Phone (02) 8962 6100

Fax (02) 9955 0140

Web www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au