Breast cancer is health ministry’s ‘top priority’

The treatment of breast cancer is the health ministry’s top priority, Minister Michael Damianos said on Saturday.

Speaking at an event at the Nicosia general hospital, he drew attention to Cyprus’ early detection programme, which has been in place since 2003.

He said the programme is being “constantly upgraded and developed, both technologically and operationally”.

“Since 2023, the programme has been expanded, as recommended by European guidelines, to now cover women aged between 45 and 74, instead of just between 50 and 69, providing free mammograms upon invitation by the health ministry,” he said.

This change was made in 2022, and with it, 60 per cent of Cyprus’ female population is now eligible for screenings.

He added that Cyprus has an “organised network of mammography centres” which have “extended hours to serve working women as well”.

“All mammography centres have been upgraded in terms of their infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. Especially in terms of equipment, among other things, they were upgraded through donations from Opap, providing modern digital mammograms with the latest technology,” he said.

These modern digital mammograms, he said, “are capable of high definition tomosynthesis, significantly improving the chances of early diagnosis and successful treatment in certain categories of women”.

With this in mind, he said every mammography centre in Cyprus “meets the necessary specifications”, and that they are now “gradually” being given international accreditation as such.