The number of women who underwent breast cancer screenings last year rose 36.3 percent from the previous year, after eligibility for publicly funded breast cancer screenings was expanded, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said on Monday.
Ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, the agency is encouraging women to make their health a priority and invite their mothers, sisters and friends to get breast cancer screenings together.
Breast cancer had the highest standardized incidence rate among all cancers in women in 2023, and in 2024, it had the second-highest mortality rate among cancers in women, HPA and Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung Department of Health
To improve early detection and reduce mortality risk of breast cancer, the HPA expanded the eligibility of its publicly funded breast cancer screening program — a mammogram once every two years — to women aged 40 to 74, starting from Jan. 1 last year.
After the expansion, the number of women who underwent breast cancer screenings last year increased by 36.3 percent, the agency said.
About 326,000 people in the expanded eligibility — aged 40 to 44 and aged 70 to 74 — underwent a mammography last year, accounting for 25.9 percent of total screenings, it said.
Mammography is globally recognized as the most effective evidence-based breast cancer screening tool, as it can detect microcalcifications and early-stage tumors before symptoms appear, the HPA said.
The procedure is quick and involves low doses of radiation, and modern equipment has significantly reduced discomfort, it said.
Domestic and international studies have shown that getting mammograms regularly can reduce the incidence of late-stage breast cancer by about 30 percent and the mortality rate by about 41 percent, it said, adding that the five-year survival rate of early detected and treated breast cancer is more than 99 percent.
HPA cancer registry data for 2023 showed that 62.9 percent of cases detected through screenings were in the early stages (0 and 1), the agency said.
Among those who did not receive screenings, only 34.9 percent were diagnosed at an early stage, it added.
International Women’s Day is not only about celebrating women’s achievements, but also a reminder to women to view their health as a priority, the HPA said.
Many women delay breast cancer screenings due to busy daily schedules or concern about potential discomfort, resulting in delayed detection and late treatment, it said, adding that getting a screening with family members or friends can help ease stress and serve as a reminder to get tested regularly.
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