27 October 2023
In a significant stride towards prioritising women's health, the Lisbon City Council signed an agreement with the Champalimaud Foundation to carry out free breast cancer screenings.
This agreement, formally signed yesterday in a ceremony that took place at the Lisbon City Hall, will allow women under 50 in the city to undergo free breast cancer screenings. This initiative, set to be implemented by the end of the year, aims to tackle the alarming rise in cancer incidence among younger women.
The programme will enable women in Lisbon to undergo breast screenings without bureaucratic issues. While the programme primarily targets women under the age of 50, it is important to note that older women will also have the opportunity to benefit from this initiative. Access to free mammograms will be conveniently available at the Lisbon City Hall Social Services, where a mammography machine has been provided by the Champalimaud Foundation.
The importance of early detection in successfully treating breast cancer cannot be overstated. In a time when breast cancer incidence among younger women has surged significantly, this collaboration seeks to offer a lifeline by promoting early screening.
Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Foundation, emphasised the transformative impact of early diagnosis, stating, "The possibility of successfully treating breast cancer, when detected at an early stage, is completely different." This program is expected to make it more accessible for younger women to proactively undergo screening, enhancing their chances of early intervention and successful treatment.
The joint effort of the Champalimaud Foundation and the Lisbon City Council represents a commendable step forward in the fight against breast cancer, complementary to the screening programmes already set in place by the National Health Service and Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, emphasising the significance of coordinated and integrated healthcare measures.
The protocol signed yesterday will be in effect until December 31, 2025, with the possibility of annual renewals thereafter.
