The European Commission recommended on Tuesday September 20 to widen the public concerned by cancer screening in the EU, in particular by lowering to 45 the age from which women are eligible for organized screening for breast cancer.
"
We need to screen more and better
," European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told reporters.
"
We are proposing to extend breast cancer screening (which according to current European recommendations concerns women aged 50 to 69) to women aged 45 to 74
", indicated the Cypriot commissioner, who herself survived breast cancer.
"
In addition, we recommend the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for women with particularly dense breasts
," she added.
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The Commission also recommends that the HPV test (human papillomavirus infection) be offered to women aged 30 to 65 every five years, rather than the cytological examination (“
Pap test
”).
To detect colorectal cancer, faecal immunochemical tests are recommended in people between the ages of 50 and 74 to determine the need for follow-up by endoscopy.
The Commission also proposes to introduce screening for lung cancer, prostate cancer and, under certain conditions, stomach cancer.
Against lung cancer, she advocates screening for heavy smokers and former heavy smokers aged 50 to 75.
Against prostate cancer, she proposes to introduce a test (prostate specific antigen) for men up to 70 years old, with an additional MRI as a follow-up test.
Finally, it recommends screening for stomach cancer in countries or regions where the incidence and mortality rate of this cancer are high.
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Stella Kyriakides expressed the hope that these recommendations will be approved by the Council - an institution representing the Member States - by December.
