Minister worried breast cancer statistics could be misused

Wed, 25 Apr 2012

The Health Minister is urging an MHK not to use breast cancer statistics to re-ignite concerns about breast surgery on the Island.

Douglas East member Brenda Cannell asked a series of questions in this week's House of Keys sitting about diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the last year.

63 patients have been diagnosed with breast cancer on the Island in the last year, with 18 receiving a mastectomy and 3 having undergone breast reconstruction surgery.

David Anderson says not all cases require surgery, and not all women who have a mastectomy want a breast reconstruction.

He adds that he's worried the statistics could be misused to re-ignite fears about breast surgery services.