§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that a programme of research is carried out into the incidence of breast cancer affecting women in the county of Gwynedd.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Welsh Office is already aware of the incidence of breast cancer in Gwynedd.
A considerable body of research has been undertaken into the causes of breast cancer. This has revealed a number of factors which are consistently related to the development of breast cancer. It appears that there may be an important genetic component in some cases. Other important risk factors may include early menarche, no pregnancies or a late first pregnancy and late menopause. Dietary habits may also play a part.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of the number of women suffering from breast cancer in the last year for which figures are available for each of the health authority areas in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesEstimates of the number of women who currently have breast cancer are not readily available centrally. The numbers of new breast cancer cases registered for Welsh residents in 1988, the latest available year, are given in the table:
Numbers of new registrations of female breast cancer (ICD-9 code 174), 1988 Health authority area of residence Number Clwyd 314 East Dyfed 185 Pembrokeshire 82 Gwent 273 Gwynedd 172 Mid Glamorgan 302 Powys 60 South Glamorgan 230 West Glamorgan 238 Wales 1,856