"Tell us our density"
Julie Haines’ mammogram didn’t show her cancer. But an ultrasound did.
Almost two years ago, the Havelock North woman was diagnosed with a 1cm tumour that did not show up on a routine mammogram due to her breast density. It was found only because her specialist knew about her density and sent her for an ultrasound. Caught early, Julie avoided chemotherapy and is now cancer free. She knows she was lucky, and she doesn’t believe any woman’s survival should come down to luck.
Breast density is a measure of how much of the breast is made up of glandular and fibrous tissue compared with fat. On a mammogram, dense tissue looks white, and so do tumours, which means cancers can be hidden, just as Julie’s was. Supplementary imaging such as contrast-enhanced mammography can find 93–98% of cancers in dense breasts.
That’s why Julie has started a petition asking Parliament to require breast density reporting, and to provide alternative imaging and screening for women who need it. Around 8–10% of screened women have extremely dense breasts. Yet most New Zealand women are never told their density, and wāhine Māori, who have higher density on average, are most affected. With density reporting not due for review until 2028, Julie isn’t waiting. She has even shown her own scans to both Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins.
Julie isn’t alone. Since September, women across the country have shared their stories in the media including The Press, Stuff, Herald Now, Three News, RNZ and 1News, describing cancers that were masked by dense tissue or found after a clear mammogram. Breast density has become an election issue, raised in the NZ Herald leaders’ debate on 14 October, and we’ve put the question directly to political parties. Radiologists are adding their voice too: the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists has recommended mandatory density reporting since 2023, and says the capability to measure density already exists.
Without knowing their density, women can’t talk to their doctor about their risk or ask whether extra imaging is right for them. That's why it's one of the three asks in our 2026 Election Manifesto and, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’ll keep pushing until every woman knows her density.
Please sign Julie’s petition and share it with the women you love.