Written Answers. - Mammography Screening.
Edward Nealon
Question:
49
Mr. Nealon
asked the
Minister for Health
the results of studies carried out here and in other countries of the value of organised mass screening for breast cancer in leading to early detection and a saving of women's lives especially in the high risk group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6595/95]
Edward Nealon
Question:
50
Mr. Nealon
asked the
Minister for Health,
in view of the fact that, a higher percentage of women in Ireland died of breast cancer than in any other EU country in 1993, that over half of the deaths in 1993, 660 women altogether, were aged between 50 and 64 years and that the predictions are that cancer deaths will continue to rise dramatically, if he will provide a screening service on a mass population basis to detect breast cancer in all women in the high risk group of women aged from 50 to 64 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6596/95]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.
Mammography screening involves the carrying out of mammography on a mass population basis to detect breast cancer in non symptomatic women. There has been considerable debate and discussion regarding the effectiveness of mammography screening in reducing mortality from breast cancer. However, there is general agreement that mammography screening programmes are not effective in reducing mortality in younger women. For this reason mammography screening programmes tend to be directed at women aged between 50-65 years. It is essential to establish whether a reduction in the mortality rate can be achieved in Ireland. For these reasons, my Department has been supporting the Eccles Breast Screening Programme, which is one of a network of pilot schemes on breast cancer being carried out within the European Union.
The objectives of the Eccles Breast Screening Programme are:
—to evaluate the impact of mammographic screening on mortality from breast cancer among Irish women:
—to document compliance with a breast screening programme in Irish women;
—to compare the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the mammography programme with that reported internationally.
The Deputy will wish to know that using age standardised data from the southern tumor registry, Ireland ranks fifth within the European Union in terms of incidence levels behind Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark.
With regard to mortality levels, provisional figures for 1993 show that, of a total number of 647 women who died from breast cancer in Ireland, 229 were aged between 45-64 years. This represents approximately 35 per cent of the total. While mortality from breast cancer is not separately identified in published Eurostat data, World Health Organisation statistics for 1990, based on age-standardised data, indicate that breast cancer mortality rates are lower in Ireland than in the United Kingdom or Holland.
The Deputy may be aware that a National Cancer Registry was established in January 1994. This will enable my Department to provide accurate and comprehensive statistics on national incidence and mortality levels.
TheGovernment of Renewal programme contains an undertaking to expand the Eccles Breast Screening Programme on a phased basis to cover those women in the high risk group nationwide. A report on the programme's second round of screening was completed at the end of 1994 and submitted to my Department. This report is currently being evaluated and assessed. I expect to be in a position to announce a decision on the phased expansion of the programme in the near future.
