Breast cancer death rates in Australia have fallen since the
introduction of the BreastScreen Australia Program in 1991,
according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare (AIHW).
But it may be too early to draw conclusions yet, according to
the Head of the AIHW's Health Registers and Cancer Monitoring Unit,
Dr Paul Jelfs.
The report, BreastScreen Australia Achievement Report 1997
and 1998, was jointly produced by BreastScreen Australia, the
AIHW and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
(The BreastScreen Australia Program provides free mammographic
screening every two years to all women aged 40 or over, with women
aged 50-69 years especially encouraged to attend. No referrals are
required, and services are available throughout Australia.)
'The report shows that breast cancer death rates in the
Program's target 50-69 year age group fell by 15% from 1991 to
1998', Dr Jelfs said.
'And from 1991 to 1997 breast cancer incidence rose by 21% in
this age group.
'The rise in incidence rates is what we would expect in the
early years of a cancer detection program. And we must bear in mind
that the underlying breast cancer incidence rate was increasing
before the BreastScreen Program began.
'That said, however, the quite sharp rise in incidence in the
target 50-69 age group between 1992 and 1994 is at least partially
attributable to the Program. We are seeing early detection in women
who may otherwise have gone undetected for some years.
'Early detection, especially of small cancers (10 mm diameter or
less) through mammographic screening, undoubtedly improves chances
of surviving the disease.
'Nearly 3,000 breast cancers were detected through the Program
in 1998, over 1,000 of which were small cancers.
'But improvements in treatment practices (surgery and
chemotherapy) and disease management have also played a part in
reducing death rates.
'It is very difficult to quantify the relative contributions-but
BreastScreen Australia is commissioning a project to find out if it
is possible to isolate the impact of early detection on breast
cancer mortality.'
Participation in the Program is on the increase. In 1998, 1.3
million women were screened, including 54% of all women in the
50-69 target age group.
BreastScreen Australia says a 70% participation rate in the
target group is needed to get significant mortality reductions.
Work is under way to achieve this through recruitment
campaigns.
11 September 2000
Further information: Dr Paul Jelfs, AIHW, tel.
04 0171 8939.
General media enquiries: Nigel Harding, AIHW, tel. 02
6244 1025 (bh) or 04 2968 8834 (mob.).
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.
Note:BreastScreen Australia Achievement
Report 1997 and 1998 will be launched by the Minister for
Health and Aged Care, Dr Michael Wooldridge, at 10 am, 11 September
2000, at the Well Women's Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Grattan
St, Carlton, Melbourne. All media welcome.