Screening
The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland is responsible for organising screenings for its area’s residents. Participation in the screening is voluntary and free of charge.
According to the national screening guidelines, cancer screening and prenatal screening are performed. Cancer screening refers to the systematic search for precursors or early stages of cancer in the population. The goal is to reduce deaths caused by screenable cancer. The implementation of prenatal screening is explained in connection with the maternity clinic services.
In accordance with the national screening programme, the following cancer screenings are carried out:
- breast cancer screening
- bowel cancer screening
- cancer screening of the cervix
Cancer screening
Target group and time interval for screenings: Women between 50 and 69 years of age: every 20-26 months.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. The aim of screening is to detect breast cancer as early as possible. The main benefit of screening is the reduction in the number of deaths due to breast cancer. Breast cancer is screened by mammography and, if necessary, by other tests as well.
Target group and time interval for screenings: Women between 30 and 65 years of age: every five years.
In the cancer screening of the cervical part of the uterus, the goal is to detect not only early cervical cancer but also cancer precursors. The most important benefit of screening is the reduction in the incidence of and deaths caused by cervical cancer. The screening test is either an HPV or Papa test.
Target group and time interval for screenings: In 2022, all women and men aged 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 were screened and invited. Once the programme has reached its full extent by 2031, those aged 56 to 74 will be invited to the screening every two years.
Intestinal cancer is a general name for cancer of the colon and rectum. Intestinal cancer is the second most common cancer among both women and men. The purpose of screening is to detect intestinal cancer at an early non-symptom stage. The aim of the screening is to reduce the number of deaths due to intestinal cancer.
The screening test is a stool blood test, and if blood is detected in the samples, further examinations are carried out under the guidelines of the Turku University Hospital Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic.
If you are subject to a safety ban, you must personally contact the unit conducting the screening in order to get an appointment.