Breast cancer is the most common type of malignant tumours in Estonian women. Every year, nearly 800 new cases of breast cancers are diagnosed, and the number of patients is growing. The disease is also common in other countries. According to the European Union statistics, one in every eight women falls ill with breast cancer before the age of 85.
It’s vital that women go to screenings because breast cancer can be treated if detected early. Studies show that in 50–69-year-old women who go to mammography screenings, the risk of mortality due to breast cancer is reduced approximately 35%.
Estonian Cancer Society brings a mammography bus close to home. In 2023, Viljandi hospital helped perform 7,602 breast cancer screenings on the bus. As a result of these tests, 215 women were referred to additional tests and 24 cases of breast cancer were discovered, most of them in the early IA stage. In two women, cancer was discovered in both breasts.
Because the lifespan of a mammography unit depends on the number of X-rays taken, the Estonian Cancer Society has a couple of years to replace the mobile unit. Therefore, it’s high time to start collecting donations for a new 3D mammography unit. The new equipment will take digital mammography to a new level and diagnose changes in breast tissue even more accurately thanks to employing artificial intelligence and the newest radiography methods.
Thanks to the successful cooperation between Estonian Health Insurance Fund, Estonian Cancer Society, and Viljandi hospital, a mammography bus and mobile diagnosis cabinets are driving around Estonia, saving hundreds of lives, and supporting thousands of cancer patients. In 2025, a mobile MRI will take to the roads to help people receive necessary treatment sooner.
The new mobile units have been purchased solely with donations from the Cancer Society’s good partners and public donations. We extend a heart-felt thank to every supporter, because together, we make Estonia healthier.
Your donation may save lives! Every contribution, no matter how small, gives the organisation strength to keep on going. Everyone may contribute to purchasing the new 3D mammography unit by donating to MTÜ Eesti Vähiliit (NGO Estonian Cancer Society).
The organisation is included on the list of non-profit organisations eligible for income tax incentives. Read more about taxes here: Donations and taxes.
