In recent months, women in Valencia have increasingly faced an alarming situation: routine breast cancer screenings are delayed, and results must be awaited for weeks or even months. For many, this becomes a real ordeal — waiting for answers on such an important issue causes significant stress.
María, now 68, has participated in the breast cancer prevention program for nearly three decades. Previously, she received invitations for mammograms regularly every two years, and results were provided quickly. But in 2024, everything changed: the invitation for her next screening came almost a year later than usual, and after the procedure, she waited another two months with no response. It was impossible to reach the medical center by phone, and only after numerous attempts was she told she needed an additional procedure — one about which no one had warned her in advance.
Unable to bear the uncertainty, María turned to a private clinic, where an ultrasound revealed that a previously detected small lump had grown. Armed with this report, she went to her doctor, who referred her for further testing outside the standard program. As a result, after another biopsy and a long wait, the diagnosis turned out to be benign, but she is still outraged that all this happened outside the prevention system, which is supposed to operate clearly and efficiently.
Delays and a reduction in the number of screenings in the Valencian Community have become a topic of discussion at the political level. According to official data, in 2024 the number of mammograms decreased by 12,000 compared to the previous year, and coverage for women aged 45 to 70 dropped to 65.6%. This is the lowest rate in the past four years. Opposition representatives are demanding explanations from the regional government as to why breast cancer prevention has fallen off the priority list, despite public statements by the authorities.
Regional authorities attribute the situation to technical reasons: in 2024, several medical centers underwent equipment upgrades, leading to temporary service interruptions, and in some areas, the program was temporarily suspended due to heavy rains. However, these explanations do not satisfy either patients or politicians, since the issue concerns the health of thousands of women. Many fear that delays and reduced screening could lead to late diagnoses and worsen recovery statistics.
As authorities and the opposition argue over the causes and extent of the problem, women are forced to seek alternative options and pay for screenings out of their own pockets. For many, this is both a financial and emotional burden. Public dissatisfaction is growing, and more people are demanding that breast cancer prevention once again become a real priority for the regional healthcare system.
