Delays in Dutch breast cancer screenings cause up to 60 extra deaths annually

Between 30 and 60 women in the Netherlands die each year from breast cancer due to delays in the national screening program, according to calculations by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Annually, just over 3,000 women die from breast cancer in the country, AD reported.

The national breast cancer screening program prevents roughly 1,300 deaths each year by detecting cancers early. However, these screenings are intended to occur every two years—a schedule that is increasingly being missed.

The RIVM calculations show that if the interval between screenings extends to three years, between 30 and 60 additional deaths occur each year. “Delays between screenings reduce the number of preventable deaths,” warned State Secretary Judith Tielen.

Early detection is critical because it allows treatment to begin sooner and increases the reliability of subsequent screenings. “Additionally, the accuracy of screenings improves with frequency, as changes in breast tissue can be tracked over time. That is why regular screening is so important,” said Agnes Bouwman of Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, the organization responsible for the national program.

Persistent staff shortages have reportedly also made it impossible to maintain the two-year screening schedule. For several years, the average interval between invitations has been about 2.5 years. Approximately one in seven Dutch women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. Because 80 percent of cases occur in women over 50, the program targets women aged 50 to 75, inviting them for screenings every two years.

“It is difficult, as there are nationwide shortages across the healthcare sector,” Bouwman said. “It is hard to predict how long the interval between screenings will become. We continue to try to mitigate shortages through recruitment campaigns and other measures.”