Lower breast cancer screening age: legislators

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare to lower to 40 the age at which women can participate in the national breast cancer screening program and related services.

At a news conference at the legislature, the lawmakers said the latest ministry data showed that breast cancer in Taiwan is occurring in younger women.

They called on the ministry to lower from 45 to 40 the age at which woman can access the national breast cancer screen program, and related counseling and outreach services.

HIGH DEATH RATE

“Breast cancer is a severe threat to women, and has been the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women for 19 consecutive years, while carrying the second-highest death rate among all cancers for women in Taiwan,” DPP Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) said.

Women are being diagnosed at a younger age, but the screening rate is less than 40 percent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

“The Ministry of Health and Welfare must focus more on breast cancer and adjust its policies to address the changing situation, as other countries have been doing,” she said.

EARLIER ONSET

DPP Legislator Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) said the rate of breast cancer has been rising among all age groups, while the age of the onset of breast cancer in Taiwan is on average almost 10 years younger than that of Western countries.

Lin said that the ministry program, which offers free screenings once every two years for women aged 45 and older, should be expanded so that more women are willing to undergo screening.

Additionally, although women whose breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stages have improved chances of survival, treatment costs could exceed NT$1 million, she said.

INSURANCE COVERAGE

The ministry should cover more breast cancer medications under the National Health Insurance program to ease the financial burden for those with breast cancer, she added.

The legislators also urged the government to provide subsidies for women who want to freeze their eggs and undergo related fertility procedures.