The invitation
When will you receive an invitation?
The screening organization will send you an invitation. You will receive the invitation 2 to 3 weeks before the examination. You decide whether or not to participate. You will be invited to a research center near where you live. Would you like to know when we are near you? Then take a look at the overview 'where are our research centers located'.
Belated invitation
It is currently not possible to invite clients every 2 years. This is due to a shortage of personnel. It has therefore been decided to temporarily extend the period between 2 invitations to a maximum of 3 years. This is why you will receive an invitation for the breast cancer screening programme later.
Equal offer
The health screening must be the same for all clients in the Netherlands. There is currently no equal offer. In one region, clients have to wait (much) longer for a breast examination than in another region. To reduce the differences, your examination may take place at a different location. You may also have to travel longer to the research center.
Make, change or cancel an appointment
If you have received an invitation, you can make, reschedule or cancel an appointment yourself. You can do this via the client portal My Health Screening. However, the client portal is available in Dutch. You can also contact our information line. You are welcome in one of our research centers.
Do you have any questions? Or have you received an invitation and are you unable to make, reschedule or cancel the appointment? Then contact our information line.
In case of complaints, see a doctor
If you have any complaints, or see or feel any of the following changes, ask your doctor for advice. Your GP may refer you to the hospital for further examination. In case of complaints, do not wait for the invitation for the health screening and do not make an appointment at the research center.
- You feel a lump, swelling, or hardness in your breast
- You see or feel a lump on your chest
- You have dents or dimples in your chest
- The skin of your breast is pitted and looks like an orange peel
- A wound on your chest that is not healing well
- Redness, scaling, or retraction of a nipple
- Blood or green, brown, milky, or watery discharge from a nipple
- You feel swelling in your armpit
- Your chest is red and warm to the touch
- Your breast feels different than usual
- The shape or size of your breast changes
In these cases, do not wait for the invitation of the health screening and contact your GP.
Frequently asked questions
I have lost my invitation. What should I do?
Please contact our information line.
I have not received an invitation. Why is that?
You only receive an invitation if you are registered with the municipality. The municipality forwards your name, address and date of birth to us. If you are not registered with a municipality you will not receive an invitation.
If you are registered with a municipality, but you have not received an invitation, please contact our information line.
I have moved home. What should I do?
You don’t need to do anything. Just prior to the start of a new health screening round, we will receive all the correct addresses from the municipality. As long as you make sure you are registered in your new municipality, you will automatically receive an invitation for the next round (if you still fall within the stated age category).
I would like to change my appointment. What should I do?
You can change or cancel your appointment via our patient portal My Health Screening. You should log in with your DigiD for this. You can also contact our information line.
Why am I invited to a different place for the breast examination? Previously, I could have the examination done in a mobile research center in my own hometown.
Health screening must be the same for all women in the Netherlands. That is not the case at the moment. In one region, women have to wait (much) longer for a breast examination than in another region.
To reduce the regional differences, we have planned the deployment of the mobile research centers differently. As a result, your examination will take place at a different location.
The advantage of this is that you don't have to wait as long for the breast examination. However, it may mean that you have to travel further and longer to the research center than you are used to.
Click here for the list of places where we invite offsite clients for the study.