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 health screening 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
1.221.792 invitations
The number of women who received an invitation in 2021.
885.937 participants
In 2021, 885.937 women participated in the breast cancer population screening. This is 72,5% of all women invited.
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 participating in the study, 26 are referred for further examination in the hospital. The population screening detected 6,362 cases of breast cancer in 2021.