§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of breast cancer in women aged(a) 50 to 64 years and (b) 65 years and over in each year since 1984 for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information is shown in the table; 1985 is the latest available data year.
Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of female breast1, and rates per 100,000 population, ages 50–64, 65 and
over, England and Wales, 1985
2.Age-Group Number Rate3 50–64 6,977 166 65+ 10,538 228 1 Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases 9th revision code 174. 2 Provisional. 3 Rate per 100,000 population.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of cervical cancer in women aged(a) 50 to 64 years and (b) 65 years and over in each year since 1984 for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information is shown in the table; 1985 is the latest available data year.
368W
Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri1
and rates per 100,000 population, ages 50–64,
65 and over, England and Wales, 1985
2Age-Group Number Rate2 50–64 1,075 26 65+ 1,086 24 1 Assisigned to the International Classification of Diseases 9th revision code 180. 2 Provisional 3 Rate per 100,000 population.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the routine invitation of women for breast and cervical cancer screening to women over the age of 65 years.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWomen aged over 65 are not excluded from either screening programme. We have asked health authorities to provide breast cancer screening to women in this age group every three years on request. Guidance on cervical screening issued by the Department of Health to health authorities, family practitioner committees and general practitioners stated that
women aged 65 and over who have not had two consecutive negative smears in the last ten years should also be screened".Our most recent figures show that women aged over 65 years already consult their doctors more than six times a year on average. Under the GPs' new contract much greater emphasis is being placed on health promotion and prevention of ill health. This will mean that GPs will have even more opportunities to advise women patients over 65 of the wisdom of accepting these preventive measures.