Ana Povo added that the Government “has already spoken with the General Directorate of Health [DGS] expand breast cancer screening to women aged 45 years or older”, as indicated at the European level.
“We make political decisions, but all this work has to be based on technical standards and technical indications, which is why the General Directorate of Health is already working on the standard on breast cancer screening and we hope that within a month and a half it will be published . in two months,” said the government official on the date that commemorates World Breast Cancer Day.
From then on, “all women over 45 years of age will have access to breast cancer screening,” said Ana Povo.
Asked if the measure could be applied at the end of this year, the Secretary of State said that she spoke with the DGS on Friday to try to have “the rule published as soon as possible.”
“We will then be able to analyze a summary of women who, for example, this year are in that age range between 45 and 50 years old,” he added.
The minister highlighted the importance of moving forward with this measure because it has been observed, in recent years, that “the incidence of breast cancer is increasingly occurring in younger women.”
“Breast cancer screening, unlike other types of screening, is not disease prevention screening. This is what we call secondary screening for the earliest possible diagnosis of the disease, because we want to treat women who unfortunately suffer from breast cancer as early as possible,” he highlighted.
The Secretary of State for Health also added that the Ministry of Health is developing a screening governance model with the DGS, with the aim of obtaining screening coverage rates, whether for oncological or non-oncological diseases, that are at least 80%.
Currently, the DGS recommendation to start screening is at age 50, a rule that will now be updated by the health authority, complying with the recommendations of the European Union issued two years ago to advance the first mammogram five years (up to age 45). years). and extend detection up to 74 years of age.
On World Breast Cancer Day, Ana Povo warned that one in eight women is at risk of suffering from this disease.
“In addition to prevention, you have to be alert to this problem, you also have to monitor the breast at home and, in any case or if you have any questions, contact your family doctor, because here we emphasize, being diagnosed as soon as possible. . possible,” he advised.
In Portugal, around 9,000 new cases of breast cancer are detected annually and more than 2,000 women die from this disease, according to data published by the Portuguese League Against Cancer (LPCC).
According to the LPCC, which develops the screening program in collaboration with primary health care, by the end of 2022 more than 5.3 million screening mammograms had been performed and more than 30,000 women were referred for diagnosis and treatment, which allowed a less aggressive response. , a more effective treatment and, in many cases, even a complete cure.
Typically, invitation letters are sent to women of traceable age, currently between 50 and 69 years old, registered at health centers to have a free mammogram.
Mobile breast cancer screening units move to municipalities every two years and are usually stationed near the local health center.
Source: Observadora
