Disease burden of breast cancer in Hong Kong: an exploration of trends for screening policy and resource allocation
IOL Wong, CM Schooling, BJ Cowling, CN Wong, GM Leung
School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
 
 
1. The increased risk in breast cancer incidence has continued, likely owing to ageing and cohort effects. Nonetheless, breast cancer mortality has remained stable during the past three decades despite some increased projections in older women.
2. Future research to investigate the underlying reasons for the increased projections for older women is warranted.
3. Strong birth cohort trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality are observed.
4. Some birth cohorts have a higher risk of developing breast cancer but a lower chance of dying from it. This can be explained by early detection and the availability of better treatment.
5. The lower risk for women in the 1910s birth cohorts may reflect possible dietary restriction at early ages in the 1910s and the 1920s.