Two Spanish regions bring breast cancer screening forward to age 45, reaching 43,182 more women in Extremadura alone
Extremadura will invite women to breast cancer screening from age 45 starting in January 2027, and Galicia will include the change in its 2027 budget. They are the first steps of a national agreement to extend screening to women aged 45 to 74.
Finding cancer earlier saves more lives. That is why it is great news that two Spanish regions have just decided to start screening mammograms at 45 instead of 50.
Extremadura, from January 2027
The regional government of Extremadura will expand its breast cancer early detection programme from January 2027. The number of women invited will rise from 162,221 aged 50 to 69 to 205,403 aged 45 to 69: 43,182 more women, an increase of 26.6%.
The measure is part of the region’s draft 2027 budget, with an investment of more than €1.2 million, and comes with a new system to book and follow up appointments.
Galicia, in the 2027 budget
Galicia’s health department will include screening for women aged 45 to 49 in its 2027 budget.
The bigger picture
Both decisions put into practice an agreement approved by Spain’s Public Health Commission in May: extending national breast cancer screening, which covered women aged 50 to 69, to those aged 45 to 74. Regions have up to three years to start and up to six to invite almost 100% of women in the new age groups. Some had already begun.
Why it matters
Screening finds tumours while they are still small, when the chances of a cure are highest. Widening the age range gives thousands more women that chance every year.
Sources
- Regional Government of Extremadura · Breast cancer screening extended to women from age 45 (16-10-2026, in Spanish)
- La Moncloa · Health Ministry approves extending breast screening to women aged 45 to 74 (20-05-2026, in Spanish)
- Galiciapress · Galicia to extend breast screening to women aged 45 in 2027 (17-10-2026, in Spanish)
