Finland reconsiders cancer screening | News
The EU proposes lowering some of the age limits for cancer screening.
Finland plans to update its cancer screening practices with the new EU recommendations (you switch to another service) to improve prevention.
“No changes [to the current system] would be based on scientific evidence,” said Titti Sarkealadirector of screening at the Finnish Cancer Registry.
New EU recommendations, published last December, call for breast, cervical and colon screening protocols to be updated. The new guidelines also recommend piloting prostate and lung cancer screening programs.
Cervical cancer
Finland currently invites women aged 25-65 to participate in cervical cancer screenings every five years. But since girls in Finland have been vaccinated against HPV, i.e. the human papilloma virus, for a decade already, the screening intervals may be longer in the future.
About 80 percent of girls and 70 percent of boys entering high school have been vaccinated against HPV, which causes almost all cervical cancer.
Breast cancer
The new EU recommendations suggest breast cancer screening for all women aged 45–74. In Finland, mammography is currently offered to women aged 50–69.
In the future, magnetic resonance imaging may be introduced in Finland for women with dense breast tissue, according to Sarkeala.
Rectal cancer
Initiated in some municipalities in 2019, colon cancer screening based on a home test became available across Finland in 2022. This year, the screening will cover people aged 60-70.
The test looks for hidden blood in the stool.
According to Sarkeala, it is important that public healthcare remains involved in follow-up studies initiated by expanded screening studies. About five percent of colorectal home tests require follow-up, he explained.
The EU recommends starting colon screening at age 50. In the meantime, plans are being made in Finland to lower the age limit to 56 in ten years.
Although the vast majority of Finns participate in screenings, there is still room for improvement. For example, the participation rate for cervical cancer is around 70 percent, which is below the EU’s 85 percent target.