The document provides an overview of the BreastScreen program in Victoria, Australia. It discusses the World Health Organization principles of population screening, the establishment of BreastScreen Australia in 1991, and BreastScreen Victoria's goals of reducing breast cancer mortality through early detection by screening 70% of women aged 50-69. Key details about BreastScreen Victoria include that it is a free program, women aged 50-69 are eligible, referrals are not required, and their 2009-2010 results saw over 193,000 women screened and 944 invasive cancers diagnosed.

1. BreastScreen Victoria
Overview of BreastScreen Program
Client recruitment and community education
Risk factors for breast cancer

2. Overview of BreastScreen Program
•
Background on Population Health Screening
•
BreastScreen Australia
•
BreastScreen Victoria Program

Where can women screen

Eligibility

Results

3. Population screening…
Geneva Switzerland
Set criteria by World Health Organisation with a principle that
‘programs do more good than harm’ at a reasonable cost.

4. World Health Organisation Principles
•
Aim to increase detection and reduce the impact of disease by
testing a healthy population
•
There must be a good chance that subsequent treatment can
increase survival from the disease
•
Australia uses modified WHO principles to guide screening
programs
•
Acceptable screening test repeated at intervals

5. Evidence for a population screening program for
breast cancer
•
studies and randomised controlled trials over 20 years in 4
countries
•
first mammography programs 1987 - Iceland and Sweden
•
now standard in many western countries - U.S.A, Canada,
U.K., Israel, France, Germany and Switzerland.

6. BreastScreen Australia – a population screening
program for breast cancer
•
BreastScreen Australia established 1991
•
Joint funding state/territory and Commonwealth
•
State/territory implementation, local services manage
•
National Accreditation Standards

7. BreastScreen
Australia
Goal
To reduce breast
cancer mortality
by 30% through
early detection
Aim
To screen 70% of
women in the 50 to 69
age group

8. Why do we do this?

10. CANCER IN VICTORIA: Statistics and trends 2010
Victorian Cancer Registry, Cancer Council Victoria 2011, pg 37

11. BreastScreen Victoria – The facts
• Free breast cancer screening program
• Asymptomatic women aged between 50-*69
• GP referral not required
• Female radiographers
* In May 2013 the Commonwealth Government announced an extension to the target age range to 50-74. This
will be rolled out over the coming months

12. Recommendations for Breast Screening
• Recruitment strategies target 50-69 year olds
• All women over 40 are eligible
• Every 2 years
• Complements Breast Awareness

13. BreastScreen program
Why women aged 50 to 69?
•
Evidence shows breast screening reduces the most deaths in
this age group
•
mammograms most effective screening method for finding
early breast cancer in this age group
•
52% of breast cancers found in Victoria women 50-69
•
women in 40s and over 70 still at risk

14. mammograms
woman in her 40s
post-menopausal
woman

15. How do women join BreastScreen?
•
electoral roll invitation
•
spontaneous appointment
•
rescreen invitation

18. BSV Results- 09/10 financial year
• 193,360 women screened
• 86% women were aged between 50-69 years
• 85% women returning for 2nd screen
• 944 invasive cancers and 238 DCIS diagnosed
• 542 invasive cancers were 15mm or less