89 per cent of women with breast cancer between 2006 and 2010 are still alive five years after their initial diagnosis according to the latest Cancer Survival in Victoria 2012 report.

 

Released by Cancer Council Victoria, the report shows a marked increased in survival rates when compared to 20 years ago, with breast cancer now having one of the highest five-year survival rates of any dancer diagnosed in Victorian women.

 

But despite the increase in survival rates, breast cancer remains the leading cancer diagnosed and the leading cause of death in Victorian Women, with 3,499 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 763 women dying from the disease in 2010.

 

"In Victoria, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer are aged between 50 and 69 and we encourage women to have regular mammograms between those ages," Cancer Council Victoria's Screening Programs Manager Kate Broun said

 

 

Ms Broun said free mammograms were available through BreastScreen Victoria for women aged 50 to 69. Women aged 40 to 49 or 70 and older also have free access to the BreastScreen Victoria program should they choose to have mammographic screening.

 

"Like all screening tests, mammograms aren't perfect so it's important for women to be aware of the pros and cons of screening," Ms Broun said.