Ms Vamvakinou asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 14 October 2002:

(1) What was the level of partial and radical breast mastectomy in terms of (a) the number and (b) percentage of total breast cancer patients in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001 on a national and State and Territory basis.

(2) What was the level of breast reconstruction in terms of (a) the number and (b) percentage of total breast cancer patients in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001 on a national and State and Territory basis.

(3) What were the waiting times for breast prostheses or forms for patients following a partial or radical mastectomy in (i) 1996 (ii) 1997 (iii) 1998 (iv) 1999 (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001 on a national and State and Territory basis.

Mr Andrews (Minister for Ageing) —The Minister for Health and Ageing has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) (a) The most recent data specifically on the number of mastectomies can be derived from the National Hospital Morbidity Database, which provides information about the number of breast mastectomies and all subclassifications for the years 1996-2000. The data collection focuses on hospital procedures rather than individual patients.

The following table gives nationally the total number of mastectomy procedures performed, for separations with a diagnosis of primary or secondary neoplasm of the breast (female breast cancer only):

From the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Additional data can be found at the following website: www.aihw.gov.au. Data from the year 2001 is not yet available.

(b) (i-v) Data published in Surgical management of breast cancer in Australia in 1995 (Hill et al.) found that approximately 49 per cent of women with breast cancer had mastectomy surgery. Women with early breast cancer from non-urban areas were more likely to have a mastectomy (54 per cent) compared to women with early breast cancer from urban areas (44 per cent). This is the only comprehensive published national data available on breast cancer treatment patterns. It describes each incident of breast cancer notified to cancer registries throughout Australia between April and September 1995.

(b) (vi) A direct request would need to be made to each State and Territory cancer registry to obtain any data broken down by State and Territory classification.

(2) (a) The most recent data on the number of breast reconstructions can be derived from the National Hospital Morbidity Database, which provides information about the number of general breast reconstructions for the years 1996-2000. Some of the coding systems in use, however, do not specify breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The data are available on a national basis, through the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare at www.aihw.gov.au. Data for the year 2001 is not yet available.

(b) (i-v) Data published in Surgical management of breast cancer in Australia in 1995 (Hill et al.) shows women under 50 years of age were more likely to have breast conserving surgery compared with women over 50 years of age. Fifteen per cent of women under 50 years of age with early breast cancer were planning to have or had had a reconstruction. Four per cent of women 50 years of age and over with early breast cancer were planning to have, or have had a reconstruction. Women with early breast cancer from urban areas were more likely to have breast-conserving surgery

(56 per cent) compared to women with early breast cancer in non-urban areas

(46 per cent). This is the only comprehensive published national data available, describing each incident of breast cancer notified to cancer registries throughout Australia between April and September 1995.

(b) (vi) A direct request would need to be made to each State and Territory cancer registry to obtain the data on a State and Territory basis.

(3) (i-vi) National data on waiting times for breast prostheses or forms for patients are not collected. State and Territories are responsible for the provision of breast prostheses and a direct request would need to be made to each State and Territory to obtain the information requested.