NBOCC position statements
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and risk of breast cancer
July 2008
This position statement applies only to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and breast cancer risk in women – it does not address other risks or benefits to women from HRT usage.
For the purposes of this position statement, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) defines HRT as the use of exogenous hormones (eg oestrogens, progestogen, testosterone) to manage menopausal symptoms.
There are various forms and combinations of HRT. This position statement refers to the following types of HRT: oestrogen-alone (unopposed oestrogen), combined HRT (oestrogen and progestogen, either sequential or continuous combined), combined oestrogen and testosterone, tibolone and natural therapies...more »
The risk of invasive breast cancer in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero: A review of the evidence
February 2008
This document provides a summary of findings from a search of the English language literature to examine the putative association between diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in utero and invasive breast cancer... more »
Over-diagnosis from mammography screening
January 2008
This position statement applies to over-diagnosis from mammography screening... more »
Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer
9 October 2005
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBCC) supports the recommendations of the Breast Section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. This statement was published in Surgical News - Vol 6, 9 October 2005... more »
Early detection of breast cancer
August 2004
This position statement applies to screening methods for the early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women (women without breast changes). The statement does not apply to diagnostic tests used to assess individual women presenting with breast changes... more »
Complementary Therapies
1 April 2004
The National Breast Cancer Centre recognises that a high proportion of Australian women with breast cancer use complementary therapies, and that many of these women do not discuss their therapy use with their clinicians. The NBCC is also aware of the paucity of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of many complementary therapies... more »
Statement on use of thermography to detect breast cancer
November 1999
The National Breast Cancer Centre supports the current BreastScreen statement on use of thermography to detect breast cancer.
The National Advisory Committee to the BreastScreen Australia Program does not recommend the use of thermograph for the early detection of breast cancer.
Breast thermography, also known as thermal breast imaging, is a technique that produces “heat pictures” of the breast. The rationale for thermography in breast imaging is that the skin overlying a malignant breast lesion can be warmer than that of surrounding areas... more »