BREAST cancer deaths have dropped to a record low in Waltham Forest.

According to the latest figures, women in the borough are more likely to survive the disease than many across the UK and clinicians say this may be thanks to a successful local screening programme.

Dr Durka Dougall, the senior public health programme manager for NHS Waltham Forest, said: “The rate of breast cancer deaths in Waltham Forest has stayed below rates for London and England since 2001 – and has continued to drop.

“The latest rate for Waltham Forest is 31.01 per 100,000 women aged 50 to 69, which is the 2007 figure, and was a further improvement from the rate of 51.64 in 2006.

“This compares with 57.20 per 100,000 women in the UK in 2007, and 59.82 in 2006.”

She added that more than 70 per cent of those eligible for a screening programme for women aged 53 to 70 had used the service, which exceeds the national target.

NHS Waltham Forest Chair Afzal Akram added: “This is really good news for local women and their families, but death rates are still too high. The benefits of screening are very evident so we will continue to invest in this service.

“The message is very clear – you stand a much better chance of surviving breast cancer if the disease is caught early. This is why we encourage all local women aged 53 to 70 to take up their screening appointment.”