Home
Public Health
NSW Health Survey Program
Cancer screening: breast and cervical

Cancer screening: breast and cervical

Introduction

In New South Wales in 2004, breast cancer accounted for 27.4 per cent of all cancers in females, and was the most common cause of cancer death in females. The median age at diagnosis of breast cancer in females was 59 years.[1] BreastScreen NSW offers women aged 50-69 years a free screening mammogram every 2 years.[2] A screening mammogram differs from a diagnostic mammogram in that screening is conducted on females who have no history of breast cancer and no breast problems or symptoms at the time the mammogram is taken. The NSW Cancer Plan 2007-2010 outlines the NSW Government's commitment to further reducing the effects of breast cancer.[3]

In New South Wales in 2004, cervical cancer accounted for 1.7 per cent of all cancers in females, and 1.4 per cent of cancer deaths in females. The median age at diagnosis of cervical cancer was 48 years.[1] The NSW Cervical Screening Program encourages all females aged 18-69 years to have a Pap test every 2 years, because cervical cancer is largely preventable if detected early and treated appropriately. Cervical screening prevents around 90 per cent of cervical cancers.[4] The NSW Cancer Plan 2007-2010 outlines the NSW Government's commitment to further reducing the effects of cervical cancer.[3]

In 2006, the New South Wales Population Health Survey asked females aged 50-69 years: Have you ever had a mammogram? When did you last have a mammogram? Can you tell me all the reasons why you had your last mammogram? Do you have mammograms regularly? What is the usual time period between your mammograms? Females aged 20-69 years were asked: Have you ever had a Pap test? When did you last have a Pap test? Do you have a Pap test regularly? What is the usual time period between your Pap tests? Have you ever had a hysterectomy?

Results

Breast cancer screening

To establish the proportion of females who have screening mammograms, females who had a breast problem, or had breast cancer in the past, were excluded from the data.

In 2006, 76.2 per cent of females aged 50-69 years had a screening mammogram within the last 2 years. A significantly higher proportion of females aged 55-59 years (82.5 per cent) and 65-69 years (84.2 per cent), and a significantly lower proportion of females aged 50-54 years (63.5 per cent), had a screening mammogram within the last 2 years.

There was no significant variation in the proportion of females aged 50-69 years having a screening mammogram in the last 2 years between urban areas and rural areas, or among health areas, or by socioeconomic status.

There was no significant difference in the proportion of females aged 50-69 years having a screening mammogram in the last 2 years between 1997 and 2006.

Cervical cancer screening

To establish the proportion of females who have Pap tests, females who ever had a hysterectomy were excluded from the data.

In 2006, 72.8 per cent of females aged 20-69 years had a Pap test in the past 2 years. A significantly lower proportion of females aged 20-24 years (51.9 per cent) had a Pap test in the past 2 years. A significantly higher proportion of females aged 35-39 years (79.7 per cent), 40-44 years (78.5 per cent), 45-49 years (78.8 per cent), and 50-54 years (79.5 per cent), had a Pap test within the last 2 years, compared with the overall adult female population aged 20-69 years.

A significantly higher proportion of females in rural areas (77.8 per cent) than urban areas (70.8 per cent) had a Pap test within the last 2 years. A significantly higher proportion of females in the Hunter & New England Health Area (80.9 per cent), and a significantly lower proportion of females in the Sydney West Health Area (65.0 per cent), had a Pap test in the last 2 years.

There was no significant variation in the proportion of females aged 20-69 years having a Pap test in the last 2 years by socioeconomic status.

There was a significant decrease in the proportion of females who reported having a Pap test in the last 2 years between 1998 (77.3 per cent) and 2006 (72.8 per cent).

Hysterectomy rate

In 2006, 12.6 per cent of females aged 20-69 ever had a hysterectomy. Hysterectomy increased with age.

A significantly higher proportion of females in rural areas (17.0 per cent) than urban areas (10.7 per cent) ever had a hysterectomy. A significantly higher proportion of females in the Hunter & New England (18.1 per cent) and Greater Southern (17.2 per cent) Health Areas, and a significantly lower proportion of females in the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Health Area (8.8 per cent), ever had a hysterectomy.

There was no significant variation in the proportion of females aged 20-69 years ever having a hysterectomy by socioeconomic status.

There was a significant decrease in the proportion of females who ever had a hysterectomy between 1997 (13.3 per cent) and 2006 (12.6 per cent).

References

NSW Central Cancer Registry. Cancer in NSW: Incidence and Mortality 2004. Sydney: The Cancer Institute NSW, 2006. Available online at www.cancerinstitute.org.au/cancer_inst/publications/pdfs/IncidenceMortalityReport2004.pdf (accessed 8 May 2007).
The BreastScreen NSW website at www.bsnsw.org.au (accessed 8 May 2007).
The Cancer Institute NSW. NSW Cancer Plan 2007-2010. Sydney: The Cancer Institute NSW, 2006. Available online at www.cancerinstitute.com.au/cancer_inst/publications/pdfs/NSWCancerPlan2007-2010.pdf (accessed 8 May 2007).
The NSW Cervical Screening Program website at www.csp.nsw.gov.au (accessed 8 May 2007).

Graphs

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2006 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Print version:	Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen.
Produced by:	Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on:	1 July 2007