The Early Detection Program for breast cancer, aimed at 367,221 women aged 50 to 69 residing in the Canary Islands, performed a total of 120,736 mammograms in 2025. Of these examinations, 3,806 patients were referred to reference hospitals for further study, leading to the detection of 634 cancers.
The Ministry of Health, on the occasion of World Breast Cancer Day, emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups to improve early detection and survival rates. Breast cancer is the leading cause of tumor-related death in women, and its prognosis significantly improves with early diagnosis, potentially reducing mortality by up to 30 percent.
Starting in 2027, the program will expand its coverage to women aged 45 to 49 and 70 to 74, adding approximately 146,000 women to the target population, in line with the National Health System's guidelines.
Regarding treatments, the SCS has integrated advancements such as the ferromagnetic seed for surgery, the PICC Port device for drug administration, the promotion of immunotherapy and targeted therapies, and the FAST-Forward radiotherapy technique, which reduces treatment to 5 days. Intraoperative radiotherapy (RIO) has also been implemented.
The program utilizes eleven fixed units and one mobile unit, employing high-tech digital equipment that ensures higher quality images and diagnostic accuracy. Digital mammography allows for remote consultations and reduces the need for follow-up procedures. Thanks to these advancements, the five-year survival rate reaches 90 percent.
The ten new digital mammography units will be distributed across hospitals and Specialized Care Centers (CAE) in Tenerife (five units), Gran Canaria (three units), La Palma (one unit), and La Gomera (one unit). The investment, co-financed by the ERDF Canary Islands 2021-2027 program, includes tomosynthesis and guided biopsy systems.
The SCS is also promoting the installation of cyclotrons in both provinces to produce radioisotopes for PET scans, with an investment of eleven million euros at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands and the tender for an adjacent building in Gran Canaria for another cyclotron and a proton therapy unit.
Concurrently, the Oncology Strategy for the Canary Islands 2026-2032 is being developed, a roadmap to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, aiming for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model adapted to the Archipelago's specific needs.
