Breast cancer campaign to target over 70s

Women aged 70 to 74 will now get reminders they are eligible for free breast screening.

Currently, free screening mammogram reminder letters are sent to women aged 50 to 69.

But Health Minister Sussan Ley said older women will now receive the letters to make sure they're aware they qualify for a free breast screen every two years.

The government will spend $55 million on additional invitations, the free breast screenings generated as a result and a national advertising campaign.

An extra 220,000 breast screens are expected to be delivered over four years, Ms Lay said.

"I encourage all women aged between 50 and 74 to make a breast screening appointment as we know the more Australian women who are screened, the more cancers that are detected.

"It's an invitation that could save your life."

The campaign could potentially lead to the detection of an extra 600 breast cancers a year, she said.

BREAST CANCER IN AUSTRALIA:

- One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime

- 15,600 women are predicted to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015

- Increasing age is one of the strongest risk factors

- Breast cancer can also affect men, although rarely.