Breast Cancer Screening Quotas
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Treasurer on behalf of the Hon. Tony Stewart, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer). Is the Minister aware of a recent case involving a 57-year-old woman who found her own advanced breast cancer after not being called back by BreastScreen NSW despite her breast abnormalities being apparent on several consecutive mammograms? Is the Minister aware that she had not been recalled for appropriate follow-up assessment because of quotas on how many women should be followed up being set at no more than 5 per cent of women screened? Is the Minister in a position to tell the women of this State that they can believe the results of their mammograms, or have they too not been recalled for follow-up assessment because there are just too many of them? Can the Minister explain how the use of quotas that deny women with abnormal mammograms access to reliable diagnostic services and appropriate treatment meets the established international guidelines and standards?
The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: I thank the honourable member for his question and I will pass it on to the Minister.
Deferred answer
On 28 October 2008 Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes asked a question on behalf of the Hon. Tony Stewart, the then Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer). The Supreme Court recently found in Ms O’Gorman’s favour. This is a very sad situation and my thoughts are with Ms O’Gorman and her family. Breast cancer is a terrible disease, with one in eight women being diagnosed with the condition in their lifetime. The breast-screening program has been a major success in the early detection of breast cancer; contributing to an 18 per cent reduction in deaths associated with breast cancer in the past ten years. The New South Wales Government strongly recommends women aged 50 to 69 years attend for screening mammograms every two years. However, women of any age are encouraged to get to know the look and feel of their breasts, and to see their general practitioner promptly if they notice any changes.