The quality handbooks are meant to support the decision-making and activities of actors involved in coordinating and implementing cancer screenings. The handbooks provide recommendations for implementing effective and cost-efficient screenings based on research and experience.
For cervial cancer, the following key updates were made:
- Screening should not be organized for under 25-year-olds, as the current age group is already covered by the HPV vaccination program
- Screening is not required for individuals, who have had a hysterectomy due to a benign illness or who do not have a cervix
- Self-sampling can be offered as an option at the first screening call, when the test being used is validated and the follow-up actions follow the screening algorithm
- The list of approved HPV tests has been updated
- Wellbeing services counties need to be prepared for the screenings of vaccinated age groups beginning in 2028, by making sure that the HPV testing being used enables wider genotyping (minimum types 16, 18 and 45 separately as well as other high-risk types grouped into a minimum of two groups)
For breast cancer, the following key updates were made:
- The definitions of target groups have been specified for gender minorities
- Ultrasound is not considered a sufficient method for primary or replacement screening
- Accessibility-related demands have been specified: screening units must be accessible and machines must be adjustable
- Recommended widening of age group: 46-49-year-olds (every 2 years) and 70–74-year-olds (every 3 years)
- Instructions added on screening breasts with implants (Eklund projections)
- Removed or reconstructed breasts are not screened
- Instructions on quality control and X-ray staff self-assessment updated
- Terminology unified with the newest BI-RADS classification
For bowel cancer, no major changes were made, and most updates were related to language and phrasing.
More information and links to the quality handbooks:
Veli-Matti Partanen, development manager (Cancer registry), 050 596 6367 (cervical cancer screening)
Maija Vahteristo, development manager (Cancer registry), 040 756 2161 (breast cancer screening)
Aapeli Nevala, development manager (Cancer registry), 044 536 4365 (bowel cancer screening)
Kohdunkaulan syövän seulonnan laatukäsikirja (in Finnish)
Rintasyövän seulonnan laatukäsikirja (in Finnish)
Suolistosyövän seulonnan laatukäsikirja (in Finnish)
