Ireland in top 10 for breast cancer death drop

Ireland has had the 10th highest reduction in mortality from breast cancer at all ages among 31 European countries since 1987, according to new figures.

Ireland has seen a 32% drop in breast cancer death rates over the past 33 years, according to research presented at the 9th European Breast Cancer Conference in Glasgow.

The conference was told there have been sustained decreases in breast cancer mortality in Europe since the late 1980s.

The biggest drop in death rates was recorded in England and Wales, at 41%, with the second biggest reduction recorded in Scotland, at 38%. Breast cancer mortality actually increased by 11% in Romania over the past three decades.

Ireland's breast cancer death rate in women under 50 has dropped by 50% since the late 1980s, the 10th highest drop among European countries.

Prof Phillipe Autier from the Internal Prevention Research Unit at Lyon, in France, told the conference that while the decrease in breast cancer deaths in 2010 were greatest in those countries with the highest mortality rates in the 1980s, there were notable exceptions.

He pointed out that France, which has a highly organised breast screening programme has the highest spend on cancer drugs in Europe, and is to the forefront in use of new treatments, has seen only a modest drop in its breast cancer deaths since the late 1980s.

The lowest level of breast cancer mortality reduction in Europe in women over 50 was seen in France, according to the research.

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