TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The health ministry will expand free breast cancer screenings next year to boost early detection of the disease that was the second most common cause of death among Taiwanese women last year.
The ministry said the age range for free screenings will be widened to those between 40 and 75 years old; a five-year change on either side compared to the current age bracket. In Taiwan most women develop breast cancer between the ages of 45 and 69, the ministry said via a press release published Sept. 5.
The ministry said women between 45 and 70 years old should be screened for breast cancer every two years, and those between 40 and 45 years old with a family history of the disease should do the same.
Ministry statistics show nearly 35% of women between the ages of 40 and 70 have never had a breast cancer screening. This is despite the disease being the leading cause of cancer death amongst women, and the second most common cause of death overall, it said.
In 2023, 923,000 women were screened for breast cancer in Taiwan and more than 5,390 cases were found. The ministry said just under 60% of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer became aware of it because of screening, which proves its effectiveness.
The ministry emphasized that “prevention is better than cure.” The three keys to preventing breast cancer are “early prevention, early detection, and early treatment,” it said.
“The prognosis of early-stage breast cancer treatment is good, and the five-year survival rate is as high as 90%,” the ministry said. It added that risk factors for breast cancer include early menstruation, late menopause, not having children, having children over the age of 30, having a family history of the disease, smoking, and certain dietary choices.
In addition to regular screenings, the ministry said women should pay attention to abnormal changes in their breasts and seek medical treatment as soon as they occur.