Why we conduct this screening?
In the Netherlands, 1 in 7 women gets breast cancer. Breast cancer is most common between the ages of 50 and 75. That's why they are invited. The population screening programme is intended to detect breast cancer as early as possible. This increases the chance of successful treatment. Also, often a treatment with less impact is possible.
How does the screening work?
Proven effective
1,198,866 invitations
In 2023, more than 1,198,866 women in the Netherlands received an invitation for the breast cancer screening programme.
842,256 participants
In 2023, 842,256 women participated in the breast cancer screening programme. This is 70.3% of all invited women.
71 screening centres
There are 71 screening centres in the Netherlands; 58 mobile and 13 permanent. The aim of the mobile screening centres is to offer the screening as close to home as possible.
Referrals
Of every 1,000 women who participate in the study, 20 are referred for further examination in the hospital. The population study detected 6,315 cases of breast cancer in 2023.