Breast Cancer Trials CEO Karen Price says Women's Health Week is a timely reminder for women to prioritise their health and ensure their health checks are up-to-date.
Jean Hailes Women's Health Week (1-5 September 2025) is Australia's largest event dedicated to the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people. Coinciding with NSW Women's Health Week, this year, the theme is 'Say yes to you' which aims to help women prioritise their health and wellbeing.
According to statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, between 2000 and 2024, overall cancer incidence in females increased by 10%, while cancer mortality decreased by almost 20%.[i]
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women, and the second leading cause of death.
"A large portion of the increase in breast cancer incidence occurred around 2013, when BreastScreen Australia was expanded to include women aged 70 to 74, which illustrates that these important health checks are catching cases earlier and improving outcomes for those diagnosed," explains Ms Price.
Overall, the five-year survival for breast cancer has improved, from 79% in 1991–1995 to 92% in 2016–2020, contributing to a large decrease in the mortality rate.
"Every cancer diagnosed and treated is a diagnosis and treatment that has been proven effective through clinical research," Ms Price said. "At Breast Cancer Trials, we run research with our members at institutions across Australia and New Zealand. Often our work sees us collaborating with international leaders.
"Women's health week is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the job we still need to do so that we can treat every breast cancer for every person, in every circumstance. Clinical trials research outcomes have the potential to be game-changers. The improved survival rates we celebrate are the product of successful clinical trials research – striving for new breakthroughs motivates us all at Breast Cancer Trials."
Ms Price, who is also a member of the NSW Women's Advisory Council, providing key advice to the government on the priority areas of the NSW Women's Strategy 2023 – 2026, says empowering women in their interactions with the health system is key to improvements, and to prioritise their health.
"Women are increasingly stretched. We are running organisations and businesses, we are most commonly primary caregivers, we are often helping others who need our support. These things and more are the reasons women put things off, delay routine checkups or ignore those niggles. This NSW Women's Health Week, I encourage every woman to make that appointment, get that test done you've been putting off, take a step toward that health goal. Our health is the foundation for so much we value in life. This week, take that one thing off your 'to-do' list and say yes to you."
About us:
Founded in 1978, Breast Cancer Trials conducts a multicentre national and international clinical trials research program into the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. The work of Breast Cancer Trials has improved the treatment of breast cancer, led to changes in the way breast cancer is managed and has saved thousands of lives. More than 1,000 researchers in 118 institutions across Australia and New Zealand are committed to the vision of no more lives cut short.
