Breast Cancer

Introduction

Cancer Research UK provides a Quick Guide to breast cancer that includes information about symptoms, early detection, screening for breast cancer and possible risk factors.

Incidence of Breast Cancer

Incidence is defined as the number of new cases identified in a given period of time.

In Blackpool each year there are approximately 130 new case of breast cancer identified. Figure 1 shows the trend in the cancer incidence rate in Blackpool, the north west and England and Wales. The incidence rate (in this case per 100,000 population) is calculated to allow comparison between geographies of different population sizes and with different gender and age make ups.

Breast cancer incidence has risen slightly both nationally and locally. Breast cancer incidence in Blackpool has remained in line with the national and regional incidence rate.

Figure 1 - Incidents of Breast Cancer - 2001-2017 Annual Trend

Mortality from Breast Cancer

Each year in Blackpool there are approximately 22 deaths due to breast cancer. The directly standardised mortality rate (in this case per 100,000 population) is calculated to allow comparison between geographies of different population sizes and with different age make ups. Figure 2 demonstrates that mortality rates for breast cancer in Blackpool are in line with the national average. Lifestyle factors and other wider determinates of health are not significant risks in developing breast cancer and this can be seen in Figure 2, as there are very few Local Authorities that lie outside the 3 standard deviation control limits.

Figure 2 - Mortality from Breast Cancer - 2015-2017 - Lower Tier Local Authorities

Source: HSCIC Indicators

Breast Cancer Screening

The NHS administers a national cancer screening programme aimed at detecting early symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening is included as a local authority level indicator within the Public Health Outcome Framework. The definition of this breast cancer screening coverage measure is, the proportion of women aged 53-70 resident in the area with a screening test result recorded in the previous three years. Blackpool achieved a screening coverage rate of 65.8% in 2018. Figure 3 illustrates that eligible women living in Blackpool are significantly less likely to be screened for breast cancer than the north west region or England as a whole.

Figure 3 - Breast Cancer Screening Coverage

Source: Public Health Outcomes Framework

National and local strategies (current best practices)

• Quality Standard for Breast Cancer (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2011)

Risk Factors

Cancer Research UK has compiled a summary of risk factors and causes of breast cancer.