Key numbers

Since its startup in 1995, BreastScreen Norway has sent out more than 7 million invitations, and performed more than 5 million screening examinations of about 1.2 million women. 

About 165,000 follow-up examinations have been carried out, and more than 29,500 breast cancers (5 200 DCIS and 24,300 invasive breast cancers) have been detected.

This corresponds to about 5.7 precancerous lesions and breast cancers being detected per 1000  screening examinations.

Key numbers as of January 2025:

• Target group: 680,000 women
• Opted out from being invited
  • forever: 12,000
  • for limited period: 14,900

Expected numbers for 2025:

• Invitations: 350,000
• Attendances: 265,000 (76%)
• Additional examinations: about 8,000 (3%)
• Screen-detected DCIS and breast cancers: about 1,600 

Breast cancer in general

Key figures for breast cancer in general can be found here.  

Results

• The report "BreastScreen Norway: 25 years of organized mammographic screening" published by the Cancer Registry of Norway in 2022, includes a short description of today´s  screening program and presents results from its 25 years of existence with particular focus on the last five years. You can access this report here (PDF).
• The report "The Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program, 1996-2016: Celebrating 20 years of organised mammographic screening" published by the Cancer Registry of Norway in 2017, describes the program, its history and noteworthy developments, as well as results from early performance measures. This report also shares some insights into the quality assurance, program evaluation, and research activities associated with the program, as well as perspectives on the future development of breast cancer screening. You can access this report here (PDF).