Cancer mortality down 26% in older women

Figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that there has been a 26% decrease in the mortality rate from breast cancer among women aged 50 to 69 years between 1990 and 2004.

The report, BreastScreen Australia Monitoring Report 2003-2004, indicates that the rate is down from 68.5 per 100,000 women in 1990 to 50.9 in 2004, an average decrease of 2.1% a year. The report also shows that although the occurrence of breast cancer has risen, the rate of mortality has fallen due to a combination of early detection and improvements in treatment.

Through BreastScreen Australia, free screening mammograms are provided to women, especially those aged 50-69 years, at two yearly intervals for early detection of the disease. Participation in BreastScreen among women in the target age group has increased, from 51.4% in 1996–97 to 55.6% in 2003-04.

In 2004 there were 3,851 invasive breast cancers detected by BreastScreen Australia. Of these, 2,733 were found in women in the target age group.

In 2003–04 the participation rate for Indigenous Australian women aged 50 to 69 years (35.3%) was much lower than the general non-Indigenous rate (55.4%). However, the rate for Indigenous Australian women increased significantly, from 30.3% in 1998–99 to 35.3% in 2003–04.