Action needed on Maori and PI breast cancer vulnerabilities

The final report on a large study of breast cancer outcomes across different ethnic groups has confirmed the need for immediate action to improve survival for Maori and Pacific Island people with breast cancer, and the importance of mammograms in finding cancer early, says Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Professor Ross Lawrenson’s report “How To Improve Outcomes For Women With Breast Cancer In New Zealand”, is an analysis of data from more than 12,000 women in the Auckland and Waikato Breast Cancer Registers, which are funded by Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Prof Lawrenson’s study was funded by the Health Research Council.

The study showed that Pasifika women in NZ are almost twice as likely as NZ European women to die of their breast cancer within five years, and Maori women are 76% more likely to die of their cancer than NZ European women.

Maori and Pasifika women are more likely to be diagnosed later, when tumours are larger and more likely to have spread, the study showed.

“Shocking though these numbers are, we welcome this study, which pulls together all the data to give us the big picture of inequities for Maori and Pasifika,” said Evangelia Henderson, chief executive at Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. “The data also shows that when cancers are found on a mammogram, Maori 10-year survival is the same as NZ European – 92% – so as a matter of urgency we need to increase Maori screening mammogram rates to the same levels as European and Pasifika.”

The researchers acknowledged that growth in Pasifika uptake of screening mammograms in the last few years should improve survival figures in future. But the study highlighted treatment disparities that can also impact on survival.

“DHBs need to be very sure that Maori and Pasifika women are being offered the same treatment as everyone else and, where treatment is refused, to understand if there’s a way to support patients to go ahead with recommended treatment that could prevent the cancer coming back or spreading,” said Mrs Henderson.

She also welcomed Prof Lawrenson’s suggestion that Pasifika women might need to start screening mammograms at a younger age, given the younger profile of the patient group. “Personalised or risk-based screening will be the way of the future, so why not start now with this at-risk group?” she said.

About the Breast Cancer Patient Registers: Breast Cancer Foundation NZ has been the main funder of the Breast Cancer Patient Registers (Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch) since the inception of the first register (Auckland) in 2000. The four registers currently collect data pertaining to 70% of all breast cancer diagnoses in NZ, and follow patients for life, giving a depth of data unmatched almost anywhere in the world. The registers have recently been consolidated into a single national register. The ultimate aim is for all NZ breast cancer patient data to be recorded in the register, giving better insights into treatments and outcomes for breast cancer patients in NZ. The data is available to clinicians and researchers seeking greater understanding of breast cancer and improved survival for New Zealanders.