Swedish Women Fight for Mammograms After Age 75
Swedish women are demanding mammogram screenings beyond age 75 as breast cancer risks increase with age. New research shows extending screenings could reduce mortality by 31% among elderly women. The current system creates a dangerous healthcare gap for senior citizens.
Stockholm resident Gunilla Wettersjö received her breast cancer diagnosis at age 77. The 81-year-old woman from Södermalm now advocates for extending mammogram screenings beyond current age limits.
Breast cancer mortality has dropped dramatically among women who participate in mammography screening programs. This progress stops abruptly at age 74 in Sweden's healthcare system.
Women receive no screening invitations after turning 75, despite living longer lives. Breast cancer risk increases with age, yet prevention efforts halt at this arbitrary cutoff.
Breast cancer doesn't take a break just because you turn 75, said Izabela Grape, operations manager at the breast cancer association Amazona. This is an incredibly important issue.
This year's Breast Cancer Report reveals startling statistics. Mortality rates among older women could decrease by 31 percent if they received mammogram invitations.
Sweden's universal healthcare system covers mammograms only through age 74. The country faces difficult decisions about allocating medical resources as its population ages.
Medical experts note that early detection remains crucial for treating breast cancer successfully. The current system creates a dangerous gap in women's healthcare during their later years.