Breast cancer death rate is second-highest in EU
Breast screening saves lives. Photo: Getty Images
THE NUMBER of women dying from breast cancer is falling, but Ireland still has the second-highest mortality rate in Europe, a new study shows.
Research comparing cancer rates in 28 countries in 2006 -- the most recent figures available -- found 30.5 women per 100,000 died here from breast cancer, compared to just 18.9 per 100,000 in Spain.
Screening for the disease, availability of new treatments and speedier diagnosis means the mortality rate has fallen, but we lag behind the best-performing countries.
This is because breast cancer treatment was carried out in up to 37 hospitals up to 2007 -- the year after the period being studied -- and, in some cases, the specialist medical knowledge to treat the disease was not available.
The National Cancer Control Programme interim director Tony O'Brien said last night that women were now treated in nine centres which offered the best medical expertise, and that Ireland would see improvements. Researchers in Northern Ireland, France, Italy and Norway had compared mortality rates from breast cancer, as recorded on death certificates, from countries across western and central Europe.
The study, published in the 'British Medical Journal', found that breast cancer mortality decreased by almost 27pc in Ireland between 1989 and 2006.
Overall, the breast cancer mortality rate across the 30 European countries fell by a fifth to 24 women per 100,000 population.
Spain had the lowest rate at 18.9 per 100,000 deaths. The highest was Denmark with 32, followed by Ireland.
Mr O'Brien said: "Since 2007 the BreastCheck screening programme which screens women without symptoms is being rolled-out. Women diagnosed before they show symptoms have really excellent prospects," he added.
"Women with urgent cases are seen within two weeks. In the past, there could be long intervals. When we look at women diagnosed today in five or 10 years' time, you will see improvements."
Anna Gavin, co-author of the study, said deaths had fallen, despite the fact that more women were being diagnosed.
"The population has increased, but the population has aged as well and older women are more at risk," she said. "That means there's an increased number of cases, but less people are dying."
Survival
The Irish Cancer Society said breast cancer had the best survival rate of any cancer in the country.
"More than 80pc of all women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for five years or more," a spokeswoman said.
Women have a one in 10 chance of developing breast cancer, and men a one in 466 chance.
The National Cancer Helpline can be reached at 1800 200 700.
- Paul Melia
Irish Independent
