Breast screen letter ambiguous - Australia

From: J (mcs_at_anon.anon)
Date: 02/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:40:02 -0500

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1308846.htm

Last Update: Wednesday, February 23, 2005. 8:24am (AEDT)
Breast cancer death rate falls

The number of women dying from breast cancer is continuing to fall.

The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says
early detection and better treatment are leading the fight against breast
cancer, which remains the biggest cause of cancer death in Australian
women.

However, the institute's Dr Chris Stevenson says more women need to be
encouraged to participate in the free breast screening program.

"Participation rates for Indigenous women and women from non-English
speaking backgrounds are considerably lower than the national average and
while they are not disastrous, we're still [not] getting significant
numbers of women from those groups coming along, it really does say to us
that we can do better in how we offer these services," Dr Stevenson said.

"What we think is happening is that although you can't claim a screening
mammogram back on Medicare, significant numbers of women are choosing to
pay to be privately screened rather than use the free breast screen
service."

Meanwhile in New South Wales, a more targeted mammogram reminder system
has raised concern that some women will miss out on breast checks.

Breastscreen New South Wales has told women in the 40 to 49 and over 70
age groups that they will no longer receive reminder letters.

Since December, only women in the 50 to 69 bracket will receive
mammography reminder letters.

Breast screening pioneer Margaret Sheldon of Wagga Wagga says the letter
is misleading as all women over 40 need regular checks.

"It could lead to false conclusion at which patients and doctors could
arrive that it isn't essential for assessment of women as regards their
breast health before the age of 50 and after 70," she said.

Wagga surgeon Dr David Littlejohn says that is what is happening.

"The women that are outside the target group seem to have the impression
that they don't need to have mammograms any more. That's not a good
thing," he said.

Breastscreen NSW director Anne Brassil concedes the message was ambiguous.

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