Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health has revived its early breast cancer screening programme for women between 50 and 70 years old.

Since 1992, the Ministry of Health and the Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS) have organised early breast cancer screenings using a mammography. As such, women aged between 50 and 70 who are registered at the CNS are invited every two years to carry out a mammography.

The “mammography programme” has permitted the detection of around 120 cases of cancer per year, a large number if which were in the early stages. The programme meets the demands of European guidelines.

In order that every woman can choose to participate freely and having been informed, the programme’s brochures, which discuss the advantages and disadvantages of early mammography screenings, are available in English, German, French and Portuguese.

In Luxembourg, breast cancer is the most common cancer among females as well as the main cause of their death. Every year 450 women are affected. Whilst breast cancer treatments have considerably progressed, it is a well-known fact that early screening and detection is an essential element of the fight against this illness.

Indeed, screening does not stop the development of breast cancer; in order for this to be effective, it is important to carry out regular screenings.

In regard to new procedures undertaken by the Ministry of Health since 2014, women who participate in the screening receive the result of their mammography at home, in the language of their choice, two days after it has been sent to their doctor.

If no cancer is detected, the women will be invited to participate again two years later. If cancer is detected, the woman is treated immediately. Every patient is entitled to request a copy of their results.

In terms of figures, in Luxembourg, 26,000 women aged between 50 and 70 are invited to organised screenings each year, of which 18,000 accept the offer. Out of 1,000 women who take part, 994 results come back with no signs of cancer, whilst six show cancer, normally in the early stages.

The ministry’s “mammography programme” provides daily support for women, not only in regard to the management and quality of the programme, but also by providing information regarding prevention and healthy lifestyles.

Photo by MSAN.