Breast Cancer Knows No Age
Artikel von Migros Magazin – 13 Mai 2026
“When I turned 69, I received the letter informing me that I had reached the end of the cantonal mammography screening program. In fact, the letter also mentioned that I could continue with the examinations if I wished, but at that moment I thought: ‘Well, if they are giving me the choice, it probably means the risk is over.’ Nobody really explained to me that I should continue the screenings anyway, nor how important it was. Over time, I also stopped going to the gynecologist. I felt well, had no symptoms, and therefore saw no reason for further check ups.
Then one day I felt a lump. At first, I ignored it, perhaps out of fear. When I finally decided to speak to my doctor about it, the tumor was already quite large. What shocked me most was discovering that at my age the risk had by no means disappeared. Quite the opposite. If someone had explained this clearly to me, I would probably have continued with regular screenings. Today I tell myself that information is essential, and that one letter is not enough. People need to understand that prevention has no expiration date.”
Maria (name known to the editorial team) is 75 years old and openly shares the journey she faced after leaving the cantonal mammography screening program, a public health initiative in the Canton that regularly invites women between the ages of 50 and 69 to undergo a mammogram every two years, with costs covered and standardized procedures.
The screening program, coordinated by Swiss Cancer Screening and based on the guidelines of the Federal Office of Public Health, aims at early diagnosis, promoting less invasive treatments, greater chances of recovery, and a better quality of life. However, Maria’s story demonstrates that the risk of developing breast cancer does not end after the age of 70.
Dr. Damir De Monaco, breast surgeon at Affidea brustCare Ticino (Centro Seno Ticino) in Sorengo, emphasizes that early diagnosis of breast cancer should be considered “an ongoing commitment in order to avoid an overly simplistic view of the issue.” He also clarifies that we should not speak of prevention, but rather of early diagnosis:
“Prevention is more about adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly. Mammograms and breast examinations, on the other hand, belong to the field of early diagnosis because they allow a possible tumor to be identified at an early stage, but they do not prevent its onset.”
De Monaco stresses how important this distinction is in order to avoid misunderstandings: “From experience, I see that many women still believe that regular check ups can prevent the disease from developing.”
Indeed, patients are often surprised and say things such as: “But I always had all my check ups, so why did I still get cancer?”
This confirms how widespread this misconception still is.
Speaking about cantonal screening programs, De Monaco explains that “they are based on cost benefit criteria and focus on the 50 to 69 age group, where around 45 percent of breast cancer cases occur, thereby ensuring greater diagnostic effectiveness.”
However, he reiterates the need to remain vigilant at all ages, emphasizing that the risk does not disappear even outside the groups considered most at risk:
“Around 38 percent of breast cancer cases affect women over the age of 70, while another 17 percent concern women under 50, who still do not have access to the screening program.”
These epidemiological data, confirmed by the Swiss Cancer League, show that excluding certain age groups from screening does not mean there is no risk.
Regarding women under 50, recent news indicates that the Swiss Society of Radiology, the Swiss Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the Swiss Society of Senology recommend lowering the age for mammography screening from 50 to 45 in response to the increase in cases among younger women and new scientific evidence. Starting screening earlier could reduce mortality by up to 25 percent, improve survival prospects, and lower the costs of advanced treatments.
As Maria explains, in the Canton of Ticino women receive an official communication when they turn 69 informing them that the cantonal mammography screening program has ended. However, they still have the option to continue screenings voluntarily, with individualized arrangements and often with cost coverage.
“This is a delicate transition that requires an informed choice and is not always supported by sufficiently clear and comprehensive information,” says Dr. De Monaco, reiterating a key concept: “Health cannot be reduced exclusively to numbers or economic logic.”
He also points out that communication must be adapted to the target population: “While social media are effective in reaching younger generations, they are far less effective for women over 70, many of whom use them little or not at all. Yet these are precisely the women most at risk of being excluded from the main channels of information.”
The specialist also observes that many women over 70 tend to reduce or stop medical check ups because they believe they no longer need them: “Gynecological visits decrease or stop altogether, often because of the perception of a less active or no longer active sexual life. Visits to the family doctor or gynecologist mainly occur when specific symptoms arise, leaving little room for early diagnosis. This creates a real ‘shadow zone’ in which a still at risk population receives less follow up, leading to later diagnoses and often more advanced tumors that require more complex treatments, fewer breast conserving options, less satisfactory aesthetic results, and a heavier treatment journey overall.”
Women under 50 are not free from risk either: “If around 38 percent of breast cancer cases concern women over 70, it is equally significant that another 17 percent affect women under 50.”
This figure highlights that younger women can also develop the disease despite a lower overall risk.
Fortunately, according to De Monaco, younger women benefit from greater indirect monitoring thanks to regular gynecological examinations that also include breast evaluation.
He also draws attention to another widespread misunderstanding, emphasizing that “the end of the screening program does not mean the risk has passed, because the absence of systematic invitations to undergo mammography does not mean a reduction in risk.”
Dr. De Monaco therefore underlines the need to develop alternative awareness strategies capable of reaching less connected and more isolated people as well: “Talking about early diagnosis of breast cancer requires a broad and inclusive perspective that excludes no age group. Statistics may guide decisions, but for every individual the risk always remains real.”
He concludes: “Early diagnosis must be a continuous, shared, and accessible commitment for everyone, because health can never truly be reduced to numbers.”
A Petition Calls for Screening Programs in All Cantons
The petition promoted by Soroptimist International Switzerland as part of the ‘Emozioni in Rosa’ 2025 to 2026 project calls for equal and free access to early breast cancer diagnosis in all Swiss cantons.
Today, almost half of the cantons still do not offer a free public mammography screening program. In places where such programs exist, many tumors can be detected every year while still small and before symptoms appear, greatly increasing treatment success.
The petition emphasizes that access to early diagnosis is not only a public health issue, but also a fundamental right for all women. Inequalities in screening programs lead to unfair differences in the opportunity to detect the disease at an early stage.
With this initiative, Soroptimists and supporters aim to encourage society and institutions to expand free early diagnosis programs throughout Switzerland, because detecting breast cancer early can save lives.
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