[Occurrence and mortality of breast cancer in Norway. Can early diagnosis explain the different trends?]

Abstract

A comparison is made between incidence rates of breast cancer 1956-85 and mortality rates for Norwegian women 1951-85. The trends are very different. While all age-specific incidence rates have increased steadily, mortality rates have remained stable in women younger than 70 years and have increased slowly among older women. Different explanations are discussed, with the focus on early diagnostic methods and possible implications for future mammographic screening.