Mammography screening
Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour in women.
With over 58,000 newly diagnosed cases in Germany every year, the number of breast cancer cases has increased by over 20 % during the past 25 years. No other type of cancer has spread so dramatically in recent years. The earlier the breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the healing chances are.
The German Parliament decided to introduce a nationwide quality-assured mammography screening for women between 50 and 69 years of age. It means that on the basis of the official reporting data all women of this age group are invited every two years for a free mammography.
The mammography screening complements the tactile findings, due to the fact that even the smallest non-palpable nodes are made visible by means of digital recording. The screening practices were carefully selected and certified. The quality of the programme is revealed, amongst other things, in:
Die Qualität des Programms zeigt sich u.a. durch:
- the specification of the minimum number of examinations for the doctors involved (5000 women every year)
- an obligatory double examination
- the division between the diagnosis (made by an radiologist) and the treatment (carried out by treating physicians, e.g. gynaecologists, surgeons)
- regular training courses and inspection by reference centres
Further information about Mammography screening: