The standard from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) on breast cancer screening, published on Friday, defines the eligible population as being between 45 and 74 years old, whereas until now it was intended for women between 50 and 69 years old, complying with the European Union recommendations issued around two years ago.

Speaking to Lusa agency, the president of the LPCC, the institution responsible for population-based screening in the North, Centre, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions, welcomed this measure and assured that the League has a structure in place that will allow it to start calling women at the beginning of 2025.

“It's a very complicated structure, not only in human resources but also in machinery, but the League has no problem adapting to new situations. Therefore, we will do this calmly, and from January or February (…) we will start calling women in the best way, with an appropriate schedule that corresponds to the desires of the Portuguese population”, said Vítor Veloso.

Asked whether it is necessary to reinforce resources, the oncologist stated yes, because there will be around 400,000 more women included in the screening program, but highlighted that the institution knows what needs to be done, in addition to having “an economic reserve” that allows it to cover with this responsibility.

The president also highlighted the “clear added value” of this measure, defended by the League, since 45, 50 years old are “an age at which more and more cancers appear”, and at more advanced ages there is a greater risk of having the illness.

In Portugal, in 2020, 7,425 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in women, of which 6,346 (78%) were 45 years old or over, 4,821 (65%) were between 45 and 74 years old and 1,525 (20%) were 75 or over years.

In 2021, there were 1,798 deaths, of which 828 (46%) women were between 45 and 74 years old and 1,671 (93%) were over 45 years old.

Population-based screening programs are associated with a reduction in the risk of death from breast cancer and the risk of diagnosis of advanced breast neoplasms in asymptomatic women aged between 50 and 69 years, says the DGS.

They are also associated with a reduced risk of death in asymptomatic women (aged 45 to 49), and may also be linked to a reduced risk of death in asymptomatic women aged 70 to 74.

According to the DGS, there is no scientific evidence about the benefits or risks of continuing these programs for people aged 74 or over.