(2) how many cases of breast cancer were (a) diagnosed and (b) cured in (i) Gateshead and (ii) Sunderland in each of the last 10 years.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 November 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary questions asking how many cases of ovarian cancer were (a) diagnosed and (b) cured in (i) Gateshead and (ii) Sunderland in each of the last 10 years [163358] and how many cases of breast cancer were (a) diagnosed and (b) cured in (i) Gateshead and (ii) Sunderland in each of the last 10 years [163359].
Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancers registered in the Gateshead and Sunderland local authorities between 1995 and 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) are given in Table 1.
Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancers registered in the Gateshead and Sunderland local authorities between 1995 and 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) are given in Table 2.
It is not possible to say whether or not patients are cured. For most cancers, but not breast, five-year survival rates are often taken to be 'cure' rates.
Survival rates by local authority are not available, but one and five year survival for eight common cancers including breast cancer by strategic health authority and Government Office region, for patients diagnosed in 1997-99 and followed up to 31 December 2004, are available on the National Statistics website at
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=11991&Pos=9&ColRank=1&Rank=272
The breast cancer figures are given in Table 3 for the North East.
Long-term breast cancer survival rates for Government Office regions, up to 2003 are available on the National Statistics website at
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14172&More=n
and are given in Table 4 for the North East.
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Gateshead 26 28 19 19 26 20 24 21 17 18 Sunderland 26 46 21 40 35 40 20 35 39 30 1 Ovarian cancer is defined by codes C56 and C57 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Source: Office for National Statistics
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Gateshead 123 148 129 142 148 150 128 146 166 166 Sunderland 132 170 189 178 160 189 179 209 195 249 1 Breast cancer is defined by code C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 3. Five-year age-standardised relative survival (percentage) from breast cancer in women1 aged 15-99 for the North East Patients diagnosed in 1997-99 and followed up to 31-12-04 North East Government Office Region 77 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 77 County Durham and Tees Valley 78 Patients diagnosed in 1996-98 and followed up to 31-12-03 North East Government Office Region 74 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 72 County Durham and Tees Valley 76 Patients diagnosed in 1995-97 and followed up to 31-12-02 North East Government Office Region 68 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 65 County Durham and Tees Valley 72 Patients diagnosed in 1994-96 and followed up to 31-12-01 North East Government Office Region 69 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 67 County Durham and Tees Valley 72 1 All female (15-99 years) residents who were diagnosed with breast cancer that was their first, primary, invasive malignant neoplasm were eligible for analysis. Source: Office for National Statistics
Duration of survival (percentage) One year Five years 10 years 15 years 3Women 4Deaths 13,272 1,918 94 80 69 66 1 Period approach (2001-03) 2 Age-standardisation with age-specific weights given by the proportions of women diagnosed with breast cancer in England and Wales during 1986-90 in each of six age groups (15-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-99 years). 3 Number of women included in the analyses. 4 Number of deaths occurring among these women during the stated period. Source: Office for National Statistics