Breast cancer screening

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 lifespan.

Symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• a palpable node in the breast
• a change in the shape or form of the breast, the skin or the nipple
• bloody or clear discharges from the breast
• swollen lymph nodes in the armpit.

You should always contact your GP (General Practioner), if you experience any symptoms from your breasts. This also applies if you follow the screening programme for breast cancer regularly.

Screening for breast cancer

The purpose of breast cancer screening is early detection of breast cancer that may increase the probability of effective treatment and survival.

Women aged 50 to 69 years are invited every 2nd year to a voluntary screening for breast cancer.

The Danish Health Authorities recommend participation in breast cancer screening, but it is important that you make your own decision.

Read more about pros and cons of the breast cancer screening programme

Withdraw from the screening programme

It is possible to withdraw from the screening programme. And in case you regret, it is possible to reenter the programme.

You can do so by contacting us:

• Contact the Department of Public Health Programmes

If you do not have female breast tissue, we recommend that you withdraw from the screening programme.

Invitation to screening

You will receive an invitation every 2nd year.

You will receive your first invitation within three months after you reach the age of 50, and the last invitation when you are 68 or 69 years. 

You are always welcome to contact Department of Public Health Programmes for information on when to expect an invitation to breast cancer screening.

Invitations for other target groups

Examination for breast cancer is also offered to the below target groups:

• Women aged 70 to 79 years with a former diagnosis of breast cancer
• Women aged 70 or above carrying a genetic mutation (eg. the BRCA) gene and who are therefore predisposed to breast cancer
• Change of gender: 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 belong to one of the target groups above and would like an invitation or need further information, you should:

Contact the Department of Public Health Programmes

Preparation

Invitations are sent by Digital Post. 

Read more about Digital Post

In the letter you will find information about:

• time and place for your examination
• how the examination will be performed
• what you should do, if you are not able to participate at the time or place of the examination.

In case of mental or physical disability

All five screening units in Central Denmark Region are accessible for wheel chair users. The X-ray machines can be adjusted in height. Women with special needs can be given extra time for the examination.

Contact the Department of Public Health Programmes

If you want to reschedule or cancel your appointment you can do so by clicking the button below, or by contacting us.

If you cancel your appointment, a new invitation will be sent approximately two years after, unless you have then reached the age of 70.

Mammography 

Screening for breast cancer implies taking x-rays of the breasts (mammography). During the examination, your breasts will be positioned and compressed between two plastic plates. Normally, two x-rays are taken of each breast. The examination takes approximately 5 minutes.

A copy of the screening result is sent to your GP. If you do not want your GP to receive the result, please inform the screening staff during the screening examination  

No medical doctor will be present during the examination and no consultation or further examination is offered. After the examination you can go home.

Failure to appear

If you miss your screening appointment, you will receive a reminder. The reminder urges you to contact the Department of Public Health Programmes in order to schedule a new appointment.

If you fail to do so, you will receive a new invitation after approximately two years, unless you have then reached the age of 70.

After screening

The x-rays are evaluated by two independent radiologists. You will be notified digitally about the screening result within 10 weekdays after the examination. A copy will also be sent to your GP unless otherwise agreed.

There are three possible results: 

• A normal screening result
  The result is normal, if the x-rays show no signs of breast cancer. If that is the case, you will then receive a new invitation after approximately two years, unless you have reached the age of 70.
  Note, if you have breast implants, a pacemaker or if you are incapable of performing the entire examination due to physical or mental disabilities, the screening result may be subject to uncertainty.
  If you experience any symptoms from your breasts between screening invitations, you are advised to contact your GP.

• An abnormal screening result
  The result is abnormal, if the x-rays show possible signs of breast cancer. If that is the case, you will be called to an additional examination (clinical mammography) within 14 days from the x-ray evaluation.

• Re-examination due to technical issues
  If the x-rays cannot be evaluated due to technical issues, you will be invited to a new screening examination (mammography).

If you do not receive your screening result, we recommend that you contact the Department of Public Health Programmes.

If the x-rays or screening examination show possible signs of breast cancer, you will be called to an additional examination (clinical mammography) within 14 days from the x-ray evaluation.

In Central Denmark Region, additional examinations are performed at the Viborg Regional Hospital or Aarhus University Hospital. The examination takes approximately 60 minutes. It is possible to be accompanied by a friend or a relative. If you wish to change the time or place of the additional examination, you must contact the department where the examination is to take place - contact information will appear in the invitation.

A clinical mammography often consists of the following examinations:

• examination of the breasts by a medical doctor
• x-rays of the breasts
• ultra sound examination of the breasts with or without tissue sampling (biopsy).

Results of additional examinations

If the clinical mammography supports a cancer diagnosis, you will be called to further examination and treatment.

If the clinical mammography shows no signs of breast cancer, you will receive your next invitation for breast cancer screening after approximately two years, unless you have reached the age of 70.

For information in other languages (for instance Urdu, Arabic, Turkish) about the Danish cancer screening programmes, see the following links at sst.dk.

Screening for breast cancer [sst.dk]