The early detection program for breast cancer has identified 398 cases in the Girona Health Region between 2022 and 2024. Girona has registered higher figures than Camp de Tarragona, Lleida, and Terres de l'Ebre in the same period.
Girona leads detection compared to other regions
In 2022, 145 cases were detected in Girona, 123 in 2023, and 130 in 2024. Across Catalonia, screening allowed for the identification of **4,136 cases of breast cancer between 2022 and 2024**. The Northern Metropolitan Area added 1,264 cases, Barcelona City 829, and the Southern Metropolitan Area 698 during the same periodThe number of cases detected in Girona exceeds that of Camp de Tarragona, which registered 254, Lleida with 161, and Terres de l'Ebre with 140
Participation in Screening and Territorial Differences
In 2024, 28,308 women participated in screening in the Girona Health Region, representing 60.4% of the target population. The average participation in Catalonia was 65%. In Girona, participation was 63.1% in 2023 and 57.4% in 2022.
The regions with the highest participation in 2024 were Alt Pirineu i Aran with 81.2%, Lleida with 81%, Catalunya Central with 72.9%, and Terres de l'Ebre with 72.3%. In contrast, Barcelona Ciudad reached 50.3%, Camp de Tarragona 57.7%, and Penedès 58.5%
Program Operation and Results Tracking
The breast cancer screening program in Catalonia is managed in a decentralized manner through 16 territorial offices. General coordination corresponds to the Cancer Screening Office of the Oncology Master Plan.
The health protocol establishes that, if a mammogram detects a probably benign lesion, the user receives a letter and is automatically scheduled for follow-up at 6, 12, or 18 months. The average time for communicating normal results is 8 days. If additional studies are necessary, the radiology department contacts the user by phone to explain the result and schedule the required tests.
The screening computer system allows for the identification of users pending some action at all times, and territorial offices carry out the follow-up. In the last review, 196 cases with delays in the delivery of results were detected, attributed to special clinical situations or to the users' decision to refuse additional studies within the program.
Audit and territorial equity
In 2025, an internal audit was conducted for the 2024 fiscal year to review the program's operation in all territories
"From the Department of Health, they defend that territorial equity is guaranteed thanks to the use of the health card registry and continuous evaluation by health regions." - Spokesperson, Department of Health