What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a serious malignant illness. In Denmark approximately 4,700 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. One out of ten women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their life course.
Early detection of breast cancer increases the probability of effective treatment and survival. Symptoms of breast cancer includes:
- A palpable node in the breast
- A change in the shape of the breast, the skin or the nipple
- Discharge of fluid or blood from the breast
- Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit
You should always contact your general practitioner if you experience any symptoms from your breasts. This also applies if you follow the screening programme for breast cancer regularly.
What is screening for breast cancer and how is it carried out?
Screening for breast cancer is a national programme for women aged 50 to 69 years. Women in this age group are invited to participate every second year.
Screening for breast cancer is voluntary and targets women without symptoms of breast cancer. The purpose is to detect breast cancer early to improve the prospect of lenient treatment options and increase the probability of survival. Screening does not eliminate the risk of having or developing breast cancer.
A screening examination for breast cancer includes x-rays from each breast. In most cases, no signs of breast cancer are found. Even when the results are consistent with breast cancer, additional examinations are needed to confirm or dismiss breast cancer.
How do I participate, reschedule or withdraw from the breast cancer screening programme?
All women aged 50 to 69 years residing in Central Denmark Region are invited every second year to screening for breast cancer unless they have actively withdrawn from the programme.
You will receive your first invitation digitally within three months after you reach the age of 50.
You will receive your last invitation when you are 68 or 69 years old.
A specific examination time and screening unit is included in the invitation.
You can always change your appointment, permanently withdraw from the programme using this link: Link to rescheduling module or by contacting the Department of Public Health Programmes: Link to contact information
If you have withdrawn from the programme you can always re-enter by contacting the Department of Public Health Programmes.
Can I participate in the screening programme for breast cancer if:
YES! But the screening examination results can be less reliable
- I have a pacemaker implant or other foreign objects in the breast region?
YES! But the screening examination results can be less reliable
- I have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer?
YES! Women between 50 and 69 years that have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer continues to be invited in the screening programme. Women between 70 and 79 years that have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer can continue in the programme if they wish to do so.
- I have a mental or physical handicap?
YES in most cases! All five screening units in Central Denmark Region I accessible for people in wheel chairs. The X-ray machines can be adjusted in height. Women with special needs can be given extra time for the examination by contacting the Department of Public Health Programmes: Link to contact information
YES! But the invitation procedure is based on your civil registration number.
If you have a female civil registration number, you will automatically receive invitations to screening for breast cancer.
If you have a female civil registration number but do not have female breast tissue, we recommend that you permanently withdraw from the screening programme using the rescheduling module or by contacting the Department of Public Health Programmes.
If you have a male civil registration number but have female breast tissue, you will not automatically receive invitations to screening for breast cancer.
If you wish to participate in the screening programme, we recommend that you contact the Department of Public Health Programmes.
Link to rescheduling module
Link to contact information