October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising public awareness about a disease that affects millions of women around the world; Greece has launched a free nationwide breast cancer screening program for the first time.
As the World Health Organization’s data reveals, breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with approximately 2.3 million new cases recorded every year.
In Greece, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Governance, has launched the National Program for Breast Cancer Prevention, ‘Fofi Gennimata.’ This program offers free mammograms to women aged 45 to 74 years. This initiative targets 1.4 million women and provides free digital mammography, free ultrasound, and free consultations with doctors.
It is the first time such an extensive population-based screening program is being implemented in Greece on a nationwide scale, which enables women to easily, promptly, and free of charge to undergo preventative examinations.
The program aims to ensure early detection of breast cancer empowering women to take charge of their lives. Referrals are issued automatically through women’s Social Security Number (AMKA), and tests are free for both insured and uninsured women.
At the same time, another initiative called ‘PROLAMVANO’, a prevention program for cervical cancer is underway in Greece; this program targets 2.5 million women aged 21 to 65, offering free Pap tests, HPV DNA tests, colposcopy, and biopsies when necessary.
In light of breast cancer awareness month the Deputy Minister of Health, Irini Agapidaki, encouraged women not to neglect their annual mammogram examination, saying:
“If I could look into the eyes of every woman receiving the SMS or email for their preventive mammogram, I would say, ‘please, do not neglect this.’ This examination could be the step that ensures you many more years of health with your loved ones.”
