THE NUMBER of people dying from breast cancer in Ireland has fallen since the 1980s, but mortality rates from the disease are still the second highest in Europe, new research shows.
The study of 30 countries by French researchers showed the Irish rate dropped by about a quarters as a result of better screening, the availability of new treatments and speedier diagnosis.
Breast cancer mortality fell by almost 27 per cent in Ireland between 1989 and 2006, with the decrease beginning in 1991, according to the study in the British Medical Journal.
Changes in breast cancer mortality ranged from a 45 per cent decline in Iceland to a 17 per cent increase in Romania, the scientists led by Philippe Autier from the International Prevention Research Institute in France.
In France, Finland and Sweden, mortality decreased by 11 per cent, 12 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.
Overall, the breast cancer mortality rate across the 30 European countries fell by a fifth to 24 in 100,000 deaths, with the reduction tending to be greater in countries with a higher mortality in 1987-1989.
The study, which examined World Health Organisation data, found Spain to have the lowest rate at 18.9 in 100,000 deaths.
Tony O’Brien, interim director of the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme, said that the statistics provided justification for the major organisation of cancer control under way in Ireland since 2007.
He said that the data, which was analysed up until 2006, was from a time when Ireland was making progress but not as rapidly as other countries as the organisation of services was not done as effectively as it could have been.
Women being diagnosed with breast cancer now can be assured that they are being treated in systems equal to those of the best in Europe.
“They will have the same survival rates as people in other European countries,” Mr O’Brien said.
He added that the National Breast Screening Programme had the potential to make a significant contribution to lowering mortality rates in the State. “I am confident Ireland will be at the top of the league table at the next round of statistics.”
The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the decrease in mortality rates, saying breast cancer has the best survival rate of any cancer in Ireland.
To further reduce the mortality rate, it was necessary to ensure women were taking up invitations for free mammograms to help detect cancer at early stages, a spokeswoman said.
She said a reason for Ireland having a higher mortality rate than Britain in 2006 was possibly because the free breast-screening programme was only being implemented at the time and was not fully in place until 2009. The spokeswoman added that the programme’s introduction and advanced treatments had reduced the mortality rate.
According to CSO data, 739 women died from breast cancer in 2008, while 2,838 new cases were diagnosed.