NCD Watch
Breast Cancer: A Public Health Concern
8 October 2024 (Tue)
Breast cancer is a malignant tumour that develops in the breast tissue primarily in the milk ducts or glands. In 2022, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women with an estimated 2.3 million incident cases globally. The Hong Kong Cancer Registry recorded 5 565 new female breast cancer cases in 2021. Among them, over 86% occurred in females aged 45 or above. Being the third leading cause of cancer deaths among local women, there were 792 registered deaths attributed to breast cancer in 2022.
The Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region recommends women aged 44–69 with certain combinations of personalised risk factors putting them at increased risk of breast cancer to consider mammography screening every two years. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, 41.6% of women aged 44-69 reported ever had a mammogram and 18% received regular mammogram (i.e. within 2 years).
Local Chinese women aged 44-69 can use the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool to assess their risk of developing breast cancer. Based on the assessment results, they can discuss with doctors to make an informed decision on breast cancer prevention and screening. To know more about the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, please visit Cancer Online Resource Hub at www.cancer.gov.hk/en/bctool.
Women are also urged to be breast aware (i.e. be familiar with the normal look and feel of the breast) at all times and lead a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
The Government is committed to reducing the impacts of breast cancer on the local female population and the entire society. The Department of Health will continue to promote breast awareness and healthy living for the prevention of breast cancer as well as work with various sectors of the community to promote breast cancer screening recommendations.
Source: NCD Watch October 2024