Release of report on Mammography Screening Program for 1994-95

9/7/96

Western Australia's breast cancer screening program is continuing to deliver a high quality service which meets national standards, according to a report released today by Health Minister Kevin Prince.

Mr Prince said the report on the Mammography Screening Program for 1994-95 by BreastScreen WA was extremely encouraging.

"Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening cancer among women," Mr Prince said.

"The estimate risk for developing the disease by age 75 is one in 13.

"I am very pleased that our program is on target to promote early detection and treatment of breast cancer and ultimately to reduce the death rate from the disease.

"The report shows that the service has achieved excellent results and in fact has exceeded the national accreditation guidelines for cancer detection sites and the size of cancers detected.

"This is an outstanding result for WA and shows we are comparable with other States in our standard of practice and results."

The report, the first of its kind in WA, details the results of the program from July 1994 to June 1995, the first full year in which both screening and assessment were provided by the program in WA.

Among some of the findings were:

a total of 37,797 screening mammograms were taken during that time - 56.3 per cent were first screens, 43.7 per cent were later screens and 73.1 per cent were among women aged 50-69 years, a major target group;

of the 21,298 women having their first screen, 93.2 per cent had a negative screen, 6.8 per cent were recalled for further assessment and 143 or 0.7 per cent were found to have cancer;

of the 16,499 women having a later screen, 3.3 per cent were recalled and 64 (0.4 per cent) were found to have cancer;

a total of 207 cancers were diagnosed, including 206 breast cancers and one lymphoma. Of the breast cancers, 81.2 per cent were invasive and 17.4 per cent were non-invasive; and -

breast-conserving surgery was appropriate in 66.5 per cent of the cases, and mastectomy in 32.5 per cent.

Mr Prince said the breast screening program began in WA in 1989 as a pilot program but had developed into a State-wide service by May, 1995.

Women aged 50-69 years were actively recruited into the program, while women aged 40-49 years and 70-plus were eligible to be screened, but were not actively recruited.

Screening was carried out at six fixed sites in the metropolitan area and by four mobile clinics in the country and outer metropolitan areas.

Media contact: Jenny Bassett 366 0300