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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (April 18):
Question:
It has been reported that the number of new breast cancer cases gradually increased from about 1 000 in 1991 to 2 273 in 2004 and breast cancer has the highest growth rate of new cancer cases among women in recent years. Furthermore, according to the findings of a survey, the public do not have comprehensive knowledge about breast cancer, with only half of the female respondents undergoing breast examinations regularly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the annual number of deaths in respect of breast cancer is three to four times that of cervical cancer and the Government has launched a cervical cancer screening programme in 2004, whether it has studied the need to introduce a breast cancer screening programme; if it has, of the results of the study; if the result of the study is in the negative, of the justifications for that, and without a breast cancer screening programme, the ways to monitor and reduce the incidence of breast cancer in Hong Kong, as well as to ensure that grass-root women recognise the importance of breast examinations and that they can afford the cost of taking mammograph;
(b) whether it has assessed the health conditions of women (particularly those who have reached menopause) from the perspectives of social, mental and physical health; if it has, of the criteria adopted for and details of the assessment; if not, of the reasons for that, and how the authorities take forward preventive education for women's health in accordance with the health conditions of women, so as to protect their health; and
(c) given that some women have mistaken breast tumours for lymphoedema, resulting in delayed treatment, how the Government assists, in terms of resource allocation and promotion efforts for health services, women in ascertaining their health conditions, adopting healthier lifestyles and preventing them from delaying treatment?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Members of the public should live a healthy lifestyle and keep track of their physical conditions in order to maintain health and prevent diseases. Medical examination and related screening should only be taken as and when required.
Overseas studies and experience show that cervical screening can effectively reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. In view of this, the Administration has taken forward the Cervical Screening Programme in partnership with other health care service providers since 2004.
With regard to breast cancer, there are currently three screening methods, namely breast self examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. The Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (the Working Group) under the Cancer Co-ordinating Committee has made a thorough and scientific assessment of the three methods. The Working Group concludes from the assessment that there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to support a recommendation for the above three screening methods to be conducted for all women in Hong Kong. However, it recommends that all women should be encouraged to pay heed to the health of, and any abnormal changes to, their breasts. In addition, the Working Group advises that women with higher risk of developing breast cancer (such as women aged 50 or above, women with first-degree relatives having breast cancer or women having recovered from benign breast diseases) may be individually assessed by medical professionals to determine the appropriateness of breast cancer screening through CBE and mammography.
The Department of Health (DH) collects cancer data from the death registration database and Hong Kong Cancer Registry of the Hospital Authority to monitor the situation of cancer in Hong Kong. To strengthen public knowledge of breast cancer prevention, the DH has provided the public with information on breast health, cancer prevention and health promotion for women through various channels such as roving exhibitions, hotline service, its website and various publications, and in collaboration with community organisations. The Woman Health Centres (WHCs) and the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) under the DH have been working actively to raise women's awareness of breast health and help them identify any abnormal changes to their breasts so that early treatment could be sought. The WHCs and ten MCHCs also offer mammography service to women with high risks and fees are charged at a reasonable level.
(b)&(c) Between 2003 and 2004, the DH conducted a Population Health Survey jointly with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, in which over 7 000 non-institutionalised people of Hong Kong aged 15 and above were covered, and a wide array of health-related data of our population collected.
The survey revealed that more than half of the female respondents aged 15 and above rated their health positively. On physical health, about 25% of the female respondents aged 15 and above had hypertension whereas their morbidity for diabetes, cancer and coronary heart disease were 3.8%, 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. As for health risk factors, over 30% of the female respondents aged 15 and above were overweight or obese and lack of physical activity and exercises; about 80% of them consumed less than 5 portions of vegetables and fruits daily; 4.7% of them smoked every day; and less than 1% of them had a daily consumption of alcohol. On mental health, 2.6% and 2.1% of the female respondents suffered from anxiety disorder and depression disorder respectively. As for psychosocial health, over 60% of the female respondents indicated that they would be given emotional support when they so required, while over 50% of them thought that they would be provided with financial support when they were in need of such help.
Programmes on health promotion and disease prevention are made available by the DH for women aged 64 or below in its WHCs and ten MCHCs. Services provided include health education, individual counselling, physical examinations and appropriate screening tests. Moreover, free information leaflets are distributed and talks on women's health are conducted regularly. The DH also disseminates health information through its websites and hotline service, with a view to encouraging and assisting women to better understand their own health conditions and make positive changes to their lifestyle.
Ends/Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:16
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