For the benefit of public health, the Dutch government offers various medical examinations to the population, also called population studies. These examinations aim to detect a disease (at an early stage). There are examinations intended for different groups of people, screening for different conditions.
Population screening for cancer:
De overheid biedt drie bevolkingsonderzoeken naar kanker aan, namelijk baarmoederhalskanker, borstkanker en darmkanker. Dit zijn ziekten waarvoor, ófwel door het vake voorkomen ófwel door de ernst van de (vergevorderde) ziekte, opsporing en behandeling in een vroeg stadium gezondheidswinst oplevert.
De bevolkingsonderzoeken zijn voor het hele land hetzelfde en worden per regio georganiseerd. Voor de regio Noord-Holland organiseert Bevolkingsonderzoek Midden-West de onderzoeken.
Indien u voor een screening in aanmerking komt ontvangt u een uitnodiging hiervoor. Deelname is niet verplicht. U bepaalt zelf of u van de uitnodiging gebruik maakt.
- Cervical cancer
The population screening for cervical cancer is for women in the age group 30 to 60 years. They can have a cervical smear taken every five years.
If you have received an invitation, you make an appointment with the GP practice assistant. They take the smears.
If this is so problematic for you that it is a reason not to participate, you can use a self-sampling kit. With this you can take a smear yourself and send it to the laboratory in the return envelope supplied.
Deviating results need to have a follow up.
- Breast cancer
The population screening for breast cancer is for women in the age group 50 to 75 years. They can have a mammogram made every two years. This is an X-ray of the breasts.
The screening takes place at a screening center in your area. Usually this is a mobile research center especially for this purpose.
In case of deviating findings, the participating woman and the general practitioner will be informed. The following steps will then be discussed through an appointment with the general practitioner.
- Bowel cancer
The population screening for bowel cancer is for men and women in the age group 55 to 75 years. They receive a stool test every two years.
You can carry out this test yourself and send it to the laboratory in the return envelope supplied.
Deviating results need to have a follow up.
The population screenings are free of charge. If it should appear that further research is necessary, you have to check yourself with your health insurer if there are any costs.
More information
More information about the various population screenings can be found on the website of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment).