BREAST SCREENING PETITION

FOR FURTHER INFO PHONE  07 5443 481

The Petition was presented at Parliament on the 18th November 2003

AS A RESULT OF THIS PETITION, IN FEBRUARY 2004, 

THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT EXPANDED THE 

BREAST SCREENING AGE TO 45 - 69 YEARS!!!!!

(Previously 50 - 64 years)

PETITION TOTAL 124,000 - FANTASTIC - THANKYOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED

 

For excerpts of Debbie Short's Breast Cancer 

"Save the Women" CD, listen on:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DebmarieS/videos

 

SUBSIDIZED MAMMOGRAPHY  PROGRAMME

 

DEBBIE AND TIM SHORT'S SUBMISSION TO THE HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE 25 FEB 2004 

Archive NEWS ITEMS BELOW:

"CALLOUS COP-OUT IN CANCER CARE"  - SUNDAY STAR TIMES - 17 OCT 2004

  "Family tells of Cancer distress"  -  Dominion Post  - 26th February 2004

Dominion Post Article - 19th November 2003

News Item  - Sunday Star Times - 23rd November 2003

In addition to Written Submission (click above) - click here for Debbie and Tim's ORAL SUBMISSIONS presented to Health Select Committee 25.2.04


DEB'S FAVOURITE QUOTE:

"Behold the Turtle.  He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out"

James Bryant Conant

Dedication for Marie     "Why Mummy"       Poem by      Rebecca Savory

 

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES BY CLICKING ON THEM:

1.    PRESS RELEASE FROM PROFESSOR LASZLO TABAR MD (Department of Mammography, Central Hospital, Falun, Sweden).

2.    REPORT IN LANCET 26th APRIL 2003- MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICE SCREENING 

      AND MORTALITY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: 20 YR FOLLOW-UP BEFORE AND AFTER

      INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING 

3.    National Cancer Institute of America (NCI) Statement on Mammography Screening

4.    U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Update, 2002 Release

5.    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services affirms Mammography for women 40 years and over

6.    Northwest Hospital - White Paper on Mammography Screening for Women aged 40 - 49 years

7.    Background Reference Info from American Cancer Soc re Mammography Screening women aged 40yrs

8.    American College of Radiology Supports Annual Mammography Screening for Women 40 - 49 years

9.    Swedish Study Supports U.S. Groups' Position Calling for Mammography Screening for Women Aged 40-49

10.    Public Address given by Louise Buckley - Medex Radiology Ltd for Early Mammography Screening

USEFUL LINKS


HISTORY

Debbie and Tim Short, who founded the Breast Cancer Action Trust

in 2002  petitioned the New Zealand Parliament for the Government to extend Breast Screening

from the then 50 - 64 years to 40 - 70 years as in Australia.  Debbie, who at 44 years in 

December 2001 had 8 malignant tumours removed.  Early detection saves lives and 

could save the expense of Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and ongoing care.

Debbie has cost the tax payer a lot of money.

We note that 28% more women in New Zealand are dying from Breast Cancer than in 

Australia, (New Zealand Medical Journal 10.5.02) based on Otago University Research. 

Mammogram take-up rate BreastScreen Aotearoa 50 - 64 yrs is 56.2%    

-  BreastScreen Australia  50 - 69 yrs is 54.3%, so take-up rates very similar 

- the main difference is that in Australia mammograms are annually free from 40 years.     

The N Z Ministry of Health puts up spurious arguments like: "younger women have denser tissues 

and false positives".  This is spurious because the practice in clinics worldwide is that if the tissue 

is dense, it is then followed by an ultrasound which makes the diagnosis clear.  

The false positive rate is only about 5%.  What is best: protecting that 5% who will be given the good 

news a month later; or giving life to all those women who would benefit???????  

Our Petition read:

To the House of Representatives:

"That the Government URGENTLY AMENDS the Government Breast Screening Programme to include women aged from 40 years to 70 years (the same as Australia) instead of the present 50 years to 64 years."

Latest data from the NZ Ministry of Health:  647 lives p.a.  The peak death rate from Breast Cancer

is 50 - 54 years (not when getting Breast Cancer, but when dying from it) with the

death rate being higher from 45 - 49 years than that of 54 - 59 years.  The younger a women is,

the more aggressive the Cancer is.  Because in some younger women mammography

screening is sometimes harder to read - this is no excuse to deny Breast Screening to all

those women who would benefit, as early detection saves lives.  Without a screening 

programme of mammography (and ultrasound backup if needed)  from 40 years, women 

get the wrong messages whereby either they don't bother, don't think it's necessary 

or can't afford it.  We all have to take responsibility for our health, but we also need 

compassion and can't ignore all those women that are dying unnecessarily.

The American Cancer Society promotes all women to have mammograms from 40 years.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force who have recently reviewed 8 major studies

of mammography and concluded there is evidence that regular mammography from

40 years could reduce chances of dying by about 20% over 10 years and are now 

recommending annual mammography for women aged from 40 years.  This change of 

heart by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force in 2002 is considered by many to be a

"dam breaker" on the issue and is very big news.

Two independent studies from Sweden, one from Gothenburg and other other from Malmo,

reported 44% and 36% decreases, respectively, in the Breast Cancer death rate for 

women who began screening in their 40's.

Other U.S.A. organisations that now recommend Mammographic Screening in Women 

aged 40 - 49 years:

        U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

        National Cancer Institute of America

        American College of Radiology

        American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

        American College of Surgeons

Here are some countries whose Government supports regular screening from 40 years:

Australia, United States, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Iceland, with Uruguay and Spain from 45 years.

THERE IS NO DOUBT, EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES!


Some other interesting facts about mammography:
    The best method for the early detection of a cancer in the breast is mammography. 

While women are encouraged to regularly examine their breasts, self examination only picks up 50 percent of breast cancers 

whereas mammography, (and ultrasound if needed) combined with a physical examination by your doctor, picks up over 90 percent 

of cancers.

   Mammography...Is it Safe?  The level of radiation is very low and the benefits of being screened for breast cancer far outweigh 

any risk of harm from the x-ray.  If you are still unsure, take comfort from the fact that the risk has been equated in health terms 

with driving in a car for 50 kilometres!  There is a misperception of Mammography as a chest x-ray, but it's not, it's only a gentle 

squeeze on the breast and no x-rays go into the chest.  The pressure placed on your breast during the x-ray cannot cause damage 

to your breasts or cause breast cancer.  It is, however, best to avoid having mammography in the week prior to your period as your 

breasts feel more tender at this time and the x-ray may cause you discomfort.   Any discomfort of mammography is insignificant 

in relation to the trauma and life threatening aspect of having Breast Cancer not found at an early stage!


 

DEBBIE'S  CD

Proceeds Going to the Breast Cancer Cause

NZ$20 with $10 going to Breast Cancer

TO ORDER: 


The Shorts and their Scarecrows!

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