Mallorca breast screening push: wider age range sought

The Balearic Parliament in Palma has asked the Govern to extend breast cancer screening to women aged 45 to 49 and 70 to 74. Members approved the call on Wednesday after MÉS per Mallorca put the proposal before the Health Commission. The request is aimed at meeting European standards on the programme’s quality and transparency.

MÉS per Mallorca MP Marta Carrió said the screening threshold was too high and that cancers were being missed. She called for a programme that is wider in reach while also being “more rigorous, transparent and fair”.

All parliamentary groups unanimously backed a separate demand for better definition, collection and availability of the programme’s clinical and timing data. They want the Govern to publish an annual quality report in line with European guidelines for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.

The report should include the rate of interval cancers, the proportion of invasive tumours compared with tumours in situ, and the average time taken across every stage of care. The figures should also be set out by island, health sector and age group.

Parliament also wants the Govern to examine why false-positive results occur and make any changes needed to reduce unnecessary tests for women.

Topics: Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com