The President of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, announced today that the regional government will advance the age for breast cancer screening by 5 years, enabling all women aged 45 to 74 to participate. This decision follows the proven effectiveness of including women aged 70 to 74 in the target population, a measure pioneered by Galicia in 2023.
The Consello da Xunta took note in its weekly meeting of the agreement to expand breast cancer screening, which foresees its gradual inclusion. This inclusion will be carried out progressively: women in the target population turning 45 or 50 years old from the start of the expansion will be invited for the first time. Throughout 2027, those born in 1982 and 1977 will be invited; in 2028, those born in 1983 and 1978; in 2029, those born in 1984 and 1979; in 2030, those born in 1985 and 1980; and in 2031, those born in 1986 and 1981. From then on, only those turning 45 will be incorporated for the first time.
Thus, 100% of Galician women aged 45 to 50 will have been able to participate in the screening by 2031, and thereafter, they will be called for the first time upon turning 45. The measure, approved by the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council, is still awaiting the norm that will modify the service portfolio of the National Health System. The proposal establishes a 3-year period from the publication of the norm to implement the necessary changes and 6 years to achieve 100% coverage for these age groups.
This initiative by the Ministry of Health will allow 100% coverage for women in this age range by 2031, at least two years earlier than required for the entire National Health System. Furthermore, it reinforces Galicia's leading position in population cancer screenings.
The expansion up to age 74, implemented by the Xunta in September 2023, has already demonstrated its effectiveness with the detection of 507 cancers in this age group. In the 2023-2024 screening round, 64,021 women aged 70 to 74 were examined, with a disease detection rate of 7.92 per 1,000 women, higher than in the immediately lower age groups.
The Program, launched in 1992 for ages 50 to 64 and extended in 2005 to 69, now covers women aged 50 to 74. In the latest round, the target population exceeded 502,000 women. Since its inception until December 2025, 4,687,662 invitations and 3,759,517 examinations have been carried out, with an overall participation rate of 80.20% (83.22% last year).
Of the examinations performed, 96.75% yielded normal results. In the period 1992-2024, 14,074 cancers were detected (a global detection rate of 3.96 per 1,000 women). The time between mammography and the hospital appointment was 30 days or less for nearly 80% of women with a positive mammogram.
Women participating in the program diagnosed with breast cancer showed higher relative survival (96.6% at five years) than those diagnosed outside of it (83.1%), attributable to early diagnosis. Additionally, the program has achieved a drastic reduction in mortality, estimated at 910 avoided deaths in the 50 to 69 age group between 1992 and 2012. Mastectomies have been reduced to only 15.02% in diagnosed women.
The Galician Program includes 24 mammographic examination units, three radiological evaluation units, and over 20 radiologists for double reading. It also has 14 diagnostic and treatment units integrated into Sergas hospitals.
