A new survey funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) has found most Australians underestimate the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year, the likelihood of recurrence and the daily death toll, despite nine Australians dying from the disease every day. The findings were released as part of the foundation's Unfinished Stories campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and feature the story of a 33-year-old Sydney mother diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2025.
The survey, completed by 1003 respondents, found that 64 per cent underestimated the number of people diagnosed each year, 84 per cent underestimated the likelihood of recurrence and spread, and 51 per cent underestimated the number of Australians who die from breast cancer each day.
Chontaine Adair, a 33-year-old mother of two from Sydney, said she had a very different perception of breast cancer before her own diagnosis in 2025. "I just didn't think it could happen at my age, and I had a mindset that it couldn't happen to me," she said.
Adair said that perception was partly shaped by age-specific screening advice. "I didn't know anyone in their early thirties with breast cancer, and any ads regarding checks like mammograms, for example, show older women and even mention, 'If you are [a certain] age, get tested', and this age was always older. They were not directed to younger women," she explained.
The NBCF said the survey revealed a disconnect between public perception and the reality of breast cancer today. The Unfinished Stories campaign aims to highlight stories like Adair's and raise awareness that the disease can affect younger women, and that the risk of recurrence and spread remains a concern even after initial treatment.
The findings come as health authorities continue to promote regular screening, though the survey suggests many Australians remain unaware of the true scale of the disease.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Public perception shapes health-seeking behaviour, and underestimating risk can delay detection and treatment.
- The survey highlights that younger women in particular may not see themselves as at risk, despite breast cancer affecting people of all ages.
- The Unfinished Stories campaign aims to reframe the conversation, but awareness alone may not address gaps in screening access and messaging.
Background
Breast cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australia, and the source material notes that nine Australians die from it every day. Public health messages around screening have historically been directed at older age groups, which may have reinforced a belief that younger women are not at risk. The NBCF survey suggests there is a persistent gap between these messages and the current reality of the disease. The experience of patients like Chontaine Adair illustrates the personal consequences of that gap, and the foundation's campaign is intended to make the statistics more visible to the public.
Key Perspectives
National Breast Cancer Foundation: The survey and the Unfinished Stories campaign aim to close the disconnect between public perception and reality, showing that breast cancer can affect younger women and that recurrence and spread are real risks even after treatment.
Younger patients like Chontaine Adair: Their experience is that screening advice and advertising are not aimed at younger women, leading them to assume they are not at risk. Adair's story personalises the survey findings and gives a face to the statistics.
Critics and skeptics: Some public health observers may caution that awareness campaigns need to translate into practical action, such as earlier screening or greater attention to symptoms in younger women. They may also note that a survey of just over 1,000 people, while indicative, may not fully capture the range of Australian attitudes.
What to Watch
- Whether the Unfinished Stories campaign leads to measurable shifts in public awareness or screening uptake during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Any changes to national screening guidelines about the age at which women are encouraged to have mammograms.
- Whether health authorities respond with targeted messaging about breast cancer risk in younger women.