Andorra's SAAS records 64 breast cancer cases in first nine months of 2026
Eight of the 64 diagnoses came through the Ministry of Health's early detection programme for women aged 50 to 74, which has found 191 cancers since it began.
Key Points
- The SAAS counted 64 new breast cancer cases between 1 January and 30 September 2026, three more than in the same period of 2025.
- Eight of the 64 cases were identified through the early detection programme, which the ministry describes as about 12% of diagnoses and El Periòdic d'Andorra reports as 12.5%.
- The programme's tenth round, covering 2026-2027, has performed 2,272 mammograms so far; 191 cancers have been found through the programme since it began.
- Sources differ on the programme's start year: the ministry says 2009, while El Periòdic d'Andorra says 2008.
Andorra's healthcare service recorded 64 new cases of breast cancer in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health to mark World Breast Cancer Day.
The Servei Andorrà d'Atenció Sanitària (SAAS) counted the cases between 1 January and 30 September, three more than in the same period of 2025. Eight of the diagnoses — 12.5% of the total, or around 12% in the ministry's own description — came through the breast cancer early detection programme run by the ministry for women aged 50 to 74.
For the whole of 2025, the SAAS registered 84 cases, 18 of them (21.4%) detected through population screening.
In the tenth round of the programme, covering 2026-2027, 2,272 mammograms have been performed so far, identifying the eight cases. Since the programme was introduced, 191 cancers have been found through it. During 2025 alone, 3,589 mammograms produced 18 positive diagnoses, while the ninth round, running from 2024 to 2025, closed with 7,123 mammograms and 28 cases detected.
The sources differ on when the programme began: the Ministry of Health says it has run the initiative since 2009, while El Periòdic d'Andorra describes it as operating since 2008.
Participation begins with a letter to women in the eligible age group offering them a mammogram. If no anomaly is found, they are invited back after two years. Where an alteration requiring further study is identified, the patient is informed and additional tests are arranged. Several radiology centres in the country take part, and each mammogram is reviewed by two radiologists who reach a result by consensus.
The ministry provides the phone number 867 785 and the email address programamama@govern.ad for questions about the screening programme. It also reiterated the importance of healthy habits — a balanced diet, physical activity and avoiding toxic substances — along with breast self-examination and regular check-ups, and urged women to consult a health professional about any abnormality. The chances of a cure improve the earlier the disease is diagnosed.
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