The STREAM study started in July 2023. Only people who receive an invitation for that study can participate in it. Invitees are selected to participate. This selection is based, among other things, on postal code area and age. There are six research sites where tomosynthesis can be performed in addition to a standard mammogram.  

If you have not received an invitation for the STREAM study but were invited for the standard mammogram, you cannot participate in the study.  

More information about the STREAM study can be found on the Radboudumc (in Dutch) website. Do you have any further questions about the study? If so, please contact the Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland.

The shortage of healthcare workers also affects the National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening. There is a shortage of screening technicians taking the breast X-rays. Read more about delayed invitations. 
 

Yes. The study is designed to detect breast cancer early, before you have any symptoms and the cancer cannot be seen or felt. There is a greater chance then that the treatment will be successful. So it can be important for everyone to take part. You decide if you want to take part in the population screening. 

Do not wait for an invitation for the population screening and do not take part. The screening is intended for people without symptoms. It is important that you contact your GP immediately and have your breasts examined.

Do you have any symptom affecting your breast but are still participating in the population screening? Please notify the employee. They will also advise you to see your GP.

The National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening is a screening test to detect abnormalities that may indicate breast cancer. It is not a diagnostic test. It is therefore of critical importance that you see your GP if you have any symptoms that may indicate breast cancer. Do this also if you develop symptoms after participating in the population screening. 

Studies show that breast self-examination does not lead to reduced mortality from breast cancer. Breast cancer is also not detected earlier in people who regularly self-examine their breasts. Population screening can actually help detect breast cancer earlier. The chances of successful treatment are then increased.

Self-examination does help you to become familiar with your own body: for example, how your breasts feel and how your skin looks. You will know what is normal for you, and you may feel or see a change sooner.

It is therefore up to everyone to decide whether they want to conduct a self-examination.

For more information on how to conduct a self-examination, visit the Thuisarts website (in Dutch). The breast cancer page also tells you which changes could be an indication of breast cancer. If you have any symptoms, make an appointment with the GP. Do not wait for an invitation for the population screening and do not participate in the population screening.

For more information on how to conduct a self-examination, visit the Thuisarts website (in Dutch). The breast cancer page also tells you which changes could be an indication of breast cancer. If you have any symptoms, make an appointment with the GP. Do not wait for an invitation for the population screening and do not participate in the population screening.

Have you had an single mastectomy (breast amputation)? Are you being monitored regularly by a specialist? And are X-rays of your breast taken at least once a year? In that case, you do not need to participate in the screening. Please report this to the Centre for Population Screening via the registration cancellation form on the back of your invitation letter. Are you not regularly monitored by a specialist? In that case, you can probably participate. When in doubt, please contact your specialist.

Have you had a double mastectomy? In that case, the breast cancer screening is not suitable for you. You can permanently deregister via My Population Screening (in Dutch). You can also contact the information line. 

Are you being monitored regularly by a specialist? And are X-rays of your breasts taken at least once a year? In that case, you do not need to participate in the screening. Please report this to the Centre for Population Screening via the registration cancellation form on the back of your invitation letter. If you are unsure if you can participate, please contact your specialist.

X-rays of people with very dense breast tissue can show a lot of glandular and connective tissue. Discovering cancer on a breast image is more difficult in those cases. A tumour is less visible. Also visit the Dense breast tissue FAQ page.

The population screening also examines whether people who have very dense breast tissue should have additional testing done. For this purpose, a study was launched to research the use of a contrast enhanced mammogram (CEM) population screening for women whose mammogram shows that they have very dense breast tissue. This study, the DENSE-2 study, also looks at the use of MRI with an abbreviated protocol. The results of this study are expected in 2031.

You are invited to participate in the National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening every 2 years. A 2-year round works best for the detection of breast cancer. We therefore recommend that you follow this invitation schedule. Due to a shortage of staff, you may have to wait longer for your invitation or screening test.

You can reschedule an appointment. However, you may have to travel to another municipality or different location, because the mobile screening centre will move on after a while.

Trans woman

If you have had an administrative male-to-female gender change, you will receive an invitation to the National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening. If you do not have breast tissue, you do not need to participate in the breast cancer screening and you can deregister.  

Trans man

If you have had an administrative female-to-male gender change, you will not automatically be invited to the National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening.

However, if you are aged between 50 and 75 years and have not had a mastectomy, you are eligible for participation. You can register at Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland | Gender diversity.

If you have had your breasts removed, there is no need for you to participate in the population screening and you do not need to take any action.

Non-binary

If you have had an administrative gender change to x, you will not be automatically invited to the National Programme for Breast Cancer Screening.

However, if you are aged between 50 and 75 years and have breast tissue, you are eligible for participation. You can register at Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland | Gender diversity (in Dutch).

If you have had your breasts removed, there is no need for you to participate in the population screening and you do not need to take any action.

For more information you can also visit www.bevolkingsonderzoeknederland.nl/genderdiversiteit (external link) or read our leaflet.

The Centre for Population Screening plans the sites for the mobile screening centres in consultation with municipalities. The screening centre is as easily accessible as possible for everyone who is screened there.

You can inform the Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland that you are in a wheelchair. You can contact them when you have received the invitation. The Centre for Population Screening will then check whether the site where the X-rays are taken in your area is suitable for you. They also plan additional time for the screening test. 

The age limits are determined by considering the benefit-risk ratio. For women between the ages of 50 and 75, the benefits of population screening outweigh the disadvantages.

Breast cancer is more common in people aged 50 years and older. 8 out of 10 people who get breast cancer are over 50. People under the age of 50 often have a lot of glandular and connective tissue in the breasts. This tissue makes it more difficult to detect abnormalities on the X-rays.

In people over 75 it is more likely that any breast cancer that is detected would not have affected them in their lifetime. In addition, other diseases are more likely to occur in people over the age of 75.

• RIVM (the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) is responsible for the national coordination on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. RIVM develops the information. In addition, RIVM sets out the eligibility requirements for the population screening.  
• The Centre for Population Screening is responsible for the implementation of the population screening. They send out the invitations, take the breast X-rays and send the results. They also check whether every participant who is referred for further examination has been seen at a hospital. They also collect healthcare data (diagnostics and the stage of the detected tumour) from the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank (Palga) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry (IKNL).
• Screening radiologists assess the breast X-rays (mammograms).
• General practitioners provide information on population screening. In addition, they advise and refer participants who need follow-up. 

You can call the Centre for Population Screening. The correct telephone number can be found by entering your postcode at Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland (in Dutch).