From 68 to 88 percent: Victoria visits mammography unit

Crown Princess Victoria visited the mammography unit at Södersjukhuset hospital in Stockholm on Thursday. There she saw how a mammogram is carried out, an X-ray of the breasts used to find breast cancer early. She was accompanied by Ulrika Årehed Kågström, Secretary-General of Cancerfonden, the Swedish Cancer Society.

The Crown Princess is patron of Cancerfonden's Pink Ribbon campaign, which every October raises money for cancer research and spreads knowledge about breast cancer.

Nine out of ten survive

In Sweden, 8,888 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. Thanks to research, better diagnosis and better treatment, nine out of ten women today live at least ten years after their diagnosis. Finding the cancer early is an important reason.

The staff talked about their work to detect breast cancer, and about what they are doing to get more women to attend when they are invited.

"Mammography screening is an important opportunity to detect breast cancer before it causes symptoms. That is why it is so important that women come when they are invited," said Pia Bernthling, head of the Breast Centre at Södersjukhuset.

Large differences between municipalities

The visit highlighted the large differences in how many women take part. In the Stockholm area, attendance varies between municipalities from 68 to 88 percent, and it is highest where people are better off.

"Where you live or what circumstances you have should not affect the chance of detecting cancer early," said Ulrika Årehed Kågström. The hospital is now working with the region to reach more women, among other things through better information and by making it easier to attend.

The Crown Princess also talked with Susan Haghighi, who has had breast cancer herself, about why mammography matters so much.