Breast cancer prevention campaign yields results
A campaign aimed at preventing breast cancer shows encouraging results in Switzerland's canton Valais.
Since its launch two years ago, 33,500 women aged 50 to 70 have received free examinations for breast cancer. This represents a participation of 37.5 per cent, according to Claude Jemelin, director of the programme in Valais.
Seventy women tested positive for breast cancer. This represented just over half a per cent.
Despite the results, it is difficult to gauge the progression of breast cancer in Switzerland.
“The statistics are still insufficient to make any comparisons with other regions,” Jemelin said.
Increased response
An increasing number of women have responded – positively or negatively — to the screening programme. In the first year, 1999, the response rate was 41.1 per cent. In the second year, 2000, the response rate was 77.3 per cent.
Just over 26 per cent of women who were contacted underwent a mammography in 1999. In 2000, the figure rose to 48.4 per cent.
During the second phase of the screening campaign, which runs until 2003, organisers hope to have at least 70 per cent of women in the canton tested for breast cancer.
Similar European campaigns showed that six to eight years were needed to get such a high response.
Valais, Vaud and Geneva are the only cantons to offer free, systematic screening for breast cancer to women aged 50 to 70. They were given the Swiss Cancer League’s Pink Award 2001 for their pioneering work.
Breast cancer in Switzerland affects 4,000 women every year and kills 1500.
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