One in nine women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Despite the high numbers of women developing breast cancer, many feel that it will never happen to them.
Some believe they do not need a mammogram if they have no symptoms.
But a screening mammogram every two years can detect a breast cancer long before it can be felt or seen.
Others think if they have no family history of breast cancer they do not need to screen. In reality, 90 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history.
South Eastern Sydney Illawarra BreastScreen Service director Mathivanan Sakthivel said regular breast screening was the best way to find breast cancer early.
He encourages women aged 50 to 74 to book a free breast screen (mammogram/breast X-ray) if they have not had one in the past two years.
"This International Women's Day [March 8] is a perfect time to ask yourself, your girlfriends, mother, grandmother, sister or daughter - have we had a breast screen in the past two years?" Mr Sakthivel said.
Women are encouraged to call 132 050 to book a free appointment at their local BreastScreen Service. There is no need for a doctor's referral and appointments usually take 20 minutes.