Specific data elements shall be captured to determine participation rates, monitor technical quality, evaluate service effectiveness, and assess results with respect to reducing morbidity and mortality from breast cancer. Potential data elements for the provincial data collection system are outlined below.

Reporting by Screening Site(s)/Region Corporation:

• number & percent of clients by age grouping (<50yrs; 50-59yrs; 60-69yrs; 70+yrs)
• profile and risk characteristics of participants (e.g., primary recruitment method, level of education, parity, age at first birth, gravidity, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, estrogen use, hysterectomy, CBE and BSE practices, etc...)
• number & percent of screens "referred out" (abnormal rate) & follow-up status by age
• women referred for further/other tests by test type results by age (i.e., diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, surgical consult, fine needle aspiration, core biopsy, open biopsy with fine wire localization, open biopsy with no fine wire localization, biopsy unspecified, other)
• screen-detected breast cancers by stage of disease and past screening habits by age
• cancer detection rates by screening interval (mammogram in previous 2 yrs versus no mammogram in previous 2 yrs; physical exam in previous 2 yrs versus no physical exam in previous 2 yrs)
• clients with interval breast cancers by screening results, age and interval since screening
• costs (per screening visit & per cancer detected)

Reporting by Provincial Epidemiologist and N.B. Provincial Cancer Registry:

• estimated number of target women in province by age (according to census data)
• provincial rates of breast cancers diagnosed among women by age at diagnosis
• size of cancers detected by age (<1cm; 1-2cm; 2-3cm; 3-4cm; >4cm; no size recorded)
• stage of cancers detected by age (both TNM and clinical staging)
• number & rates of female deaths due to breast cancers by age at death
• anticipated/standard cancer detection rates by age
• anticipated/standard "abnormal rates" (i.e., referred out from screening)
• anticipated/standard interval cancer rates in screening participants
• collation of all data to provide provincial status re measures reported regionally (above)
• cancer detection rates in nonparticipants by age

Appendix A - Table of Contents