Breast cancer cases double, survival rates improving

A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the National Breast Cancer Centre (NBCC) shows the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year has more than doubled in two decades, to more than 12,000 women in 2002.

The NBCC says advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer mean more women are surviving the disease.
Yet despite the good report, new Australian research published in the Journal of Clinical Genetics shows significant numbers of women at high risk of breast cancer fail to screen themselves as often as recommended. It also raised concerns that doctors might be steering women at high risk of breast cancer away from radical but life-saving surgery.

The study followed 142 women with an 80% genetic risk of breast cancer and it found 20% of the women failed to have six-monthly tests. Such women need to see a breast surgeon every six months, a gynaecological oncologist every six months, have a mammogram and an ultrasound of their ovaries every six to 12 months, and a blood test every six to 12 months.