Download Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer Screening
(Indicator Set: Policy)
Descriptive
Definition
Percentage of female population, age 50 to 74, who reported having
had a mammogram.
Method of
Calculation
Numerator
Number of individuals in the denominator who reported
having had a mammogram within the past 24 months.
Inclusions
• Individual is in the denominator
• Individual reported having had a mammogram
within the past 24 months
Exclusions
None
Denominator
Number of females, age 50 to 74.
Inclusions
• Sex of individual is female
• Age of individual is between 50 and 74 years
Exclusions
• Individual reported not having a mammogram
because of mastectomy
Data Source
Canadian Community Health Survey1
Notes
Not applicable
Interpretation
• A high rate for this indicator can be interpreted as a positive result.
Indicator
Rationale
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women, with
an estimated 23,400 new cases occurring in 2011,2 comprising more than
30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women age 20 to 69, and 20% in
women age 70 and older. One in 9 Canadian women will be diagnosed
with breast cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 27 will die of the disease.3
Early detection of breast cancer is an important strategy that will yield
more treatment options and improve outcomes for women diagnosed with
the disease. Breast cancer mortality has been steadily declining in Canada
over time, especially for women younger than 60. These declines are
generally the result of improvements in breast cancer screening, including
organized screening programs, increased participation rates, the improved
quality of mammography and improvements in breast cancer therapy.3
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care in 2011
recommended new screening guidelines for women age 40 to 74 at
average risk of developing breast cancer (defined as those with no
Breast Cancer Screening
(Indicator Set: Policy) (cont’d)
previous breast cancer, no history of breast cancer in a first-degree
relative, no known mutations in the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes or no previous
exposure of the chest wall to radiation).4 The guidelines recommend
routine screening with mammography every two to three years for women
age 50 to 74.4, 5
The PHC provider plays an essential role in helping to detect breast
cancer early in the progression of the disease by recommending breast
cancer screening for his or her patients and monitoring screening results.
References
1.
Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey.
www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb-bmdi/3226-eng.htm. Accessed
August 1, 2012.
2.
Canadian Cancer Society’s Steering Committee on Cancer Statistics.
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2011. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer
Society; 2011. www.cancer.ca/statistics.
3.
Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada.
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2007. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer
Society; 2007.
4.
Tonelli M, Gorber SC, Joffres M, et al. Recommendations on
screening for breast cancer in average-risk women aged 40-74 years.
CMAJ. November 22, 2011;183(17):1991-2001. PM:22106103.
5.
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Screening for
Breast Cancer. http://www.canadiantaskforce.ca/recommendations/
2011_01_eng.html. Accessed February 8, 2012.
For more information on the PHC indicators, data sources and reporting initiatives, visit CIHI’s
website at www.cihi.ca/phc or send us an email at [email protected].
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