Many women do not show up for their regular checkup for breast cancer.
Figures from the Region of Southern Denmark show, according to DR, that in the first half of 2021, 16 percent of women were absent from their agreed time. Throughout 2018, it was about nine percent.
According to Poul-Erik Svendsen (S), who is chairman of the Health Committee in the Region of Southern Denmark, the region is not alone with the problem. It is a nationwide trend.
But he has no explanation for why the women are absent.
– A lot of cancer is discovered during the screenings. Some of it so early that it can be cured. So it is unusually stupid to stay away, says Poul-Erik Svendsen to DR.
It is approximately every two years that healthy women between the ages of 50 and 69 should be called in for a screening to see if they are developing breast cancer.
The test should be done regularly and within the time limit as it may increase the chances of finding cancer cases before the disease becomes life threatening.
Bjarne Dahler Eriksen, medical director at Odense University Hospital (OUH), tells DR that it is important that the women remember to cancel their time. This will make it possible to ensure that more women are screened in time.
Poul-Erik Svendsen says that the Region of Southern Denmark, in an attempt to get more women to attend the agreed study, has put an extra 400,000 kroner in next year’s budget to extend the opening hours for mammography screening.
The new opening hours mean that women in Southern Denmark can be examined until 18.00 at least one day a week.
– It is voluntary, so information is important. We have to get on with the information, says Poul-Eriksen Svendsen.
Source: The Nordic Page