Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:10063] 
8.  
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (National—Kaikoura) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Why has the Government decided only to extend the free breast-screening programme “upwards rather than downwards” in light of new scientific evidence which shows that deaths from breast cancer fell significantly in the 40-49 year old age group in those that were screened versus those that were not screened? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 The Government is considering extending the free breast-screening programme upward to include women up to their 70th birthday as there is substantial scientific evidence of benefit in that age group equating to a 30 percent reduction in breast cancer mortality. Clearly the priority for widening eligibility for free breast-screening is in that age group. In this respect New Zealand is in step with most other developed countries where the most common age range for breast-screening programmes is between 50 and 69. However the national screening unit of the Ministry of Health is reviewing new research on this topic on a weekly basis and any decision to move the age group down will be based on the best possible evidence. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: As the peak rate for diagnosis of breast cancer is between 45 and 50 years why on earth are we not extending free breast-screening to that age group? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: In fact the member is wrong; the peak rate rises with age. The Ministry of Health’s own New Zealand Health Information Service data show that the highest rate occurs after 50 years of age. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What representations have been made to increase the screening age upwards? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I have received many letters—as have most members in this House—from organisations such as Grey Power that are rightly concerned that the highest registration of breast cancer in New Zealand is amongst women over the age of 65. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is she planning any reconsideration of the Government’s position on the age bracket within which women are entitled to free breast-cancer screening in light of the 125000-signature petition of Debbie and Tim Short received today at Parliament; if so will extensions be made at the lower end of the current age bracket; if not why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: As I said in my answer to the first question the Government is looking at extending the breast-screening programme. In the first instance we are looking at extending it upward because evidence is very strong that the older one gets the greater the risk of breast cancer. So that is the area we are looking at initially. I do welcome the petition with 120000 signatures brought by the family whom I met with earlier today. I commend them for their passion. In terms of a decision on this I will base it on the best scientific advice I can receive. 
Sue Kedgley 
: What is she doing to reduce women’s exposure to the hundreds of estrogenic hormonally active chemicals in New Zealand that are known to contribute to breast cancer such as bisphenol A commonly used as a flame retardant; and will her ministry be making a submission to the Building Bill to ensure that women are not exposed to such estrogenic chemicals in their own homes that contribute to breast cancer? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No I cannot answer that question. I have no knowledge as to whether any representations are being made on changes to the Building Act. 
Judy Turner 
: Noting that 3.8 percent of all males die from prostate cancer and those deaths represent a quarter of all male cancer deaths what progress has the National Health Committee made in assessing the proposal to provide free screening for prostate cancer? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I would like nothing more than that there be an effective screening programme for prostate cancer for men. In fact more men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer. However no other country is carrying out a screening programme at this stage because there is not an effective one. As the member has already pointed out the National Health Committee has been reviewing all international literature and is due to report in January next year. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why do some Australian women receive free mammography from age 40; and why do New Zealand women continue to die unnecessarily when we know from scientific data that free breast cancer screening in the 40-49 year age group will reduce death rates by up to 44 percent? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The second part of the question is in order and the Minister may answer that. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I would dispute the figure the member has raised. In fact the figure I have seen is 15 percent. However I would also like to point out that the Australians set up a breast-screening programme considerably before New Zealand did. We did not establish one until 1998 and at that time it was decided that the age group would be 50 to 64 because the data showed that that was the appropriate place—just as the data now is showing that we ought to extend the screening upward as our first priority. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why are New Zealand women still waiting far too long for radiation therapy following breast cancer surgery and still having to travel to Australia which was a short-term solution that this Government still has not solved? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I am pleased to tell the member that in December this year the first graduates out of the new radiation therapy programme we put in place will graduate. So instead of having 16 graduates a year—it takes 3 years to train them and 16 a year were trained until we became the Government—38 a year are trained now. When that happens we will address this problem. I am just sorry that it was not addressed before—and members opposite continue to deny it when they should have done something about it. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I seek leave to table the 
 Lancet  
of 26 April 2003 article which clearly indicates from those studies that there is a significant 44 percent reduction in breast-cancer mortality for those aged 40 to 69. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.