Breast Cancer Early Detection Program

The Israel Cancer Association continually strives to develop and implement new and effective early detection programs, such as:

• Nationwide screening programs and purchase of advanced diagnostic systems that have proven to increase complicance and decrease breast cancer mortality rates. 
  
  
• Raising the public's awareness and compliance to undergo recommended screenings through information and education programs, as well as professioal training for health care personnel.

• Approximately 90% of the women diagnosed with breast cancer can be cured, thanks to ICA's leading efforts in addressing early detection.
  
  
• The national mammography screening, along with ongoing information campaigns, have helped to significantly raise the level of awareness and compliance to early detection.

• To date, over 5,200,000 screenings have been carried out. 72% of those diagnosed were in early stages of the disease with a very high chance for recovery.

• ICA purchased a Mobile Mammography Unit, with the intent to improve accessibility in the peripheries and special sectors of the population in which compliance to undergo the screening is considerably low.
  
  
• The mobile unit is available to women residing in remote areas and who are less aware of the importance of screening tests, such as in Arab villages and communities with a high percentage of new immigrants, ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, etc.
  
  
• The current data indicate a significant reduction in the gaps between these sectors since the mobile unit operation began.
  
  
• The 2009 WHO survey of the European region revealed that Israel leads in mammography compliance rates in view of the resudced disparities between different sectors of the population.
  
  
• Data collected through the national mammography screening and quality assurance program financed by ICA shows that since the inception of the project, breast cancer early detection rates have significantly improved.
  
  
• As a result, Israel is among the leading countries with the highest survival rates, and according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, since the nationwide screening program was implemented, mortality rates have decreased by 30% in the last decade.

• Breast cancer is Israel's most prevalent cancer disease, affecting one in every 8 women.
  
  
• Thanks to the intensive efforts of the ICA in early detection there has been increased public awareness of the critical importance of screening tests for cancer.