The Health Fund expects nearly 104,000 women between the ages of 50 and 74 to be screened for breast cancer this year. While previously only 50-68-year-olds were invited to the screening, this year the target group was expanded to include 70- and 74-year-olds as well. This means that about 15,000 women were added to the number of those invited for screening.
The expansion of the target group is due to the fact that breast cancer is still the most common form of cancer in Estonian women – more than 900 women fall ill every year, and about a quarter of them have advanced disease at the time of detection. However, breast cancer screening has the hope of finding cancer at an early stage, when treatment is simpler and easier to tolerate, and recovery is entirely possible.
“It is good to see that women are more and more diligent about screening and paying more and more attention to their health. Last year, 65% of those invited took part in the breast cancer screening – this is an all-time record,” said Maria Suurna, head of the Health Fund’s screening services, and added that the more women participate in the screening, the fewer deaths caused by breast cancer.
Last year, 68% of those invited took part in breast cancer screening from Western County. “Compared to previous years, the coverage of breast cancer screening in Läänemaa has increased significantly. I acknowledge all the women who have already taken part in the screening and I encourage others to do the same,” said regional health promoter Riina Simmer.
In order to further increase participation in the screening, continuous work is being done to improve the availability of the service, so that those invited can go to the screening as close as possible to their home or workplace and at a time that suits them. “The three mammography buses that travel around Estonia throughout the year and which have been very well received by women are a great help. The bus goes to each county several times, so if you don’t manage to get time the first time, you shouldn’t worry – there will be more opportunities to visit the bus during the year,” Suurna described. He also encourages you to book an appointment with stationary service providers, and also by phone, because not all appointments may always be visible in the digital registry. In Lääne county, the mammobus will be this year from 13.05 to 17.05, in Uuemõisa (Rannarootsi center parking lot, Rannarootsi tee 1)
“We see in our work every day how important it is to detect cancer early, so we encourage all women to participate in screening. The figures from the clinic and the Cancer Registry clearly show how important screening is. The earlier cancer is detected, the better the treatment results and possible recovery. Early detection is especially important for breast cancer, which is why we encourage women to participate in screening and take care of their health,” said Dr. Kristiina Ojamaa, head of the hematology-oncology clinic at the University of Tartu Clinic.
May is also the international breast cancer prevention month, during which the Health Fund calls attention to the importance of cancer prevention and early detection with the “Living Proof” campaign. The awareness campaign focuses on people who have recovered from cancer, whose hopeful and encouraging stories confirm that early-detected cancer is treatable. Tiina Mitt, who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago during a screening, invites the women of the target group to participate in the breast cancer screening. “I definitely encourage everyone to get screened, even if there are no complaints. I didn’t have any symptoms either, but I still took part in the screening every time I was invited to the examination. Thanks to the screening, the disease was detected early enough, and therefore the treatment was effective,” said Mitt.
This year, insured and non-insured women born in 1950, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1974 are invited for a free examination. To book an appointment, use Terviseportal or contact the appropriate healthcare institution. It is important to participate in the screening even without complaints or symptoms, because early stage breast cancer does not show itself.
More information: soeluuring.ee/rinnavahk/
2024-05-02 12:52:35
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