Croatia launches national breast cancer screening for 630,000 women

The Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) has launched the ninth cycle of the National Breast Cancer Early Detection Program. Approximately 630,000 women born between 1955 and 1976 are eligible for free mammography screenings every two years.

Eligible women, aged 49 to 70, will receive an invitation at their home address specifying the date and location of the exam. If the scheduled time is inconvenient, participants can contact their local county institute of public health to reschedule. Women who have not received an invitation but fall within the age bracket are encouraged to contact their local health institute to verify their status.

Since the program's inception in 2006, over 2.3 million mammographies have been performed, leading to the detection of more than 10,000 cases of breast cancer. The current response rate is approximately 70 percent. Health officials emphasize that early detection is critical, noting that more than 90 percent of patients can be cured if the disease is identified in its initial stages.