Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour in women, and in Poland it makes up 20 percent of all cases of cancer. Early detected cancer can be 100 percent curable. One of the basic preventive examinations - mammography – is provided by the National Health Fund (NFZ) every two years free of charge under the Population-based Breast Cancer Early Detection.
The programme is directed towards the detection of the least- advanced stage cancer in people potentially healthy and among the group at the highest risk of the incidence of malignant tumours.
Reimbursement for mammography – for whom?
In the case of breast cancer, the risk of the incidence increases with age - 76 percent of all breast cancers appear among women over 50 years of age. Therefore, the Breast Cancer Early Detection Programme guarantees free mammography every two years to all women between 50 and 69 years old (with a written medical recommendation the examination can be repeated more often).
The recommendation for frequent mammography exams, which are reimbursed from the National Budget, is a person’s being classified as belonging to the group at the highest risk. This group includes women in whose families - mother, sister or daughter – breast cancer has been diagnosed or a mutation in the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene has been revealed.
The other factors that increase the risk of the incidence of caner are, among others: early first menstruation (under 12 years of age), late menopause (over 55 years of age), childbirth over 35 years of age, and childlessness.
How is a mammography examination carried out?
Mammography is a radiograph of the breast using X-rays. The examination allows minor cancerous changes to be seen before they become noticeable. During the examination, breasts are squeezed by the machine, and the radiology technician takes two photos of each gland.
Reimbursed examinations can be carried out stationary or in a so-called mammography bus. Stationary medical suites performing mammography can be located in hospitals or out-patient clinics – in every voivodeship there are a few dozen centres fulfilling the appropriate criteria.
On the other hand, mammography buses are special vehicles which in their semitrailers have a full medical suite for mammography examinations – including reception desk, and dressing and waiting rooms. The advantage of the mammography bus is the fact that they can reach small towns and villages where there is no healthcare centre.
The addresses of mammography laboratories and the mammography bus schedule are available on the websites of the Voivodeship Centres Coordinating the Population-based Breast Cancer Early Prevention Programme.
What happens if the result is alarming?
If in the mammography examination the image of the breast is abnormal, the physician will refer the woman for the next stage – intensified diagnostics – and will inform her where such an examination can be carried out.
Then the second mammography, occasionally an ultrasound of the breast, or a biopsy, can be carried out. If these examinations confirm breast cancer or another condition requiring specialised treatment, the woman will be referred (now outside the Breast Cancer Early Detection Programme) for further treatment and diagnostics at the appropriate institutions which have a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ).
Comments (0)