Breast cancer remains the most common cause of morbidity and mortality by cancer in females worldwide (1,2). During the last decade (2005-2015), the number of cases of breast cancer increased by 35% worldwide, and approximately one-fifth of this increase was due to an increase in incidence rates (2). Notably, the breast cancer incidence (age standardized rate) decreased only in countries with a high social development index (SDI), while it increased in all the other countries (2). In regard to mortality, the worldwide number of deaths increased by 21%, but the age-standardized death rate declined globally by 6% (3). The decline in mortality was seen especially in high SDI and high middle SDI countries (3-6).

Worldwide, 2,088,849 new cases and 626,679 deaths due to breast cancer were estimated as occurring in 2018 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and World Health Organization, with this disease accounting for 24% of all new cases of cancer and 15% of all cancer-related deaths in females (7). In Europe, for the same year, same source, 522,513 new cases and 137,707 deaths due to breast cancer were estimated to occur in females, these representing 26.4% of all cancers and 16% of cancer-related deaths in this region (7). Thus, in 2018, Europe possessed 23% of all breast cancer cases in the world and 21% of deaths, although it has only 10% of the world female population.

Despite its extensive impact on public health worldwide, breast cancer is largely preventable through healthy lifestyle, specific high-risk strategies for non-modifiable risks and early detection (8-11). Breast cancer screening through mammography is largely recommended worldwide, and contributions of 20-40% to a reduction in mortality were revealed by different studies (10,12-16).

In the European Union (EU), high quality population screening through mammography in women aged 50-69 years has been recognized as a priority for action (together with screening for cervix and colon cancer) since 2003(17). Two assessments of the implementation for this recommendation have been performed. The first (2008) revealed that 11 countries had population-based screening programs for cancer screening (18). The second assessment found a notable progress in improving access to breast cancer screening, with 79% of the eligible women covered by invitation to screening and 49% covered by examination (19). However, wide variations in access to screening for breast cancer, as well as in incidence and mortality for this disease still persist in the EU, and generally, women in more socio-economically deprived areas have lower access to screening, lower breast cancer incidence, but higher mortality rates (19-22).

This statistical review aimed to investigate the breast cancer-related health gaps in Romanian women compared to the average EU female population after 10 years of accession. We focused on breast cancer mortality indicators: Breast cancer deaths, age standardized mortality rates, life expectancy at birth and contribution of breast cancer to life expectancy.

The study interval was 2007-2016, 2007 being the year of accession of Romania to the EU. The study populations were represented by the female population of Romania and EU 27 (the 27 EU countries excluding the UK since 2020), respectively.

Breast cancer-related deaths were considered following the code C50 of the International Classification of Diseases Revision 10 (ICD-10), which is used in the country at present (23). They were analyzed as percentage change compared to deaths from 2007 for both Romania and EU. We also compared changes in breast cancer deaths with changes in deaths for all cancer (C00-C97) and all causes of deaths (A00-Y89, excluding S00-T98) (24).

The annual standardized mortality rates were compared as trend and percentage change over 10 years among the two populations. For understanding the breast cancer situation, we followed also the deaths for all causes and all cancer-related deaths.

Life expectancy at birth was compared as trend and percentage change. Contribution of breast cancer to life expectancy was calculated only for Romania.

All the data were extracted from Eurostat database (deaths by different ICD codes, age standardized mortality rates, life expectancy, population by age-group) (24). The contribution of breast cancer to life expectancy was calculated using the abridged life table for five-year age groups (24,25).

Morbidity indicators (incident cases/rates) were not considered due to the fact that routine reporting of morbidity is fragmentary, and the country does not have a national functional registry for breast cancer.

At present, the access to breast screening mammography in Romanian women is fragmentary, often imposing out-of-pocket payment for the investigation. No population screening has been organized to date, despite some attempts to include mammography screening in the national health programs or to some pilot projects that have been implemented, in conformity of Order of the Health Minister and of the president of the National Health Insurance House no 574/269/2008 regarding the implementing norms for the national health programs (27-36). Therefore, a small section of the female population in Romania regularly undergoes clinical and imaging examinations, in the context of which in Romania breast cancer is the first cause of cancer-related death in females, with a long gap to colon or lung cancer.

The situation in Romania is not particular, as evidence suggests that access to organized screening programs for breast cancer is more restricted in Eastern Europe, compared to the rest of the continent, despite the fact that organized mammography screening reduces the mortality due to breast cancer (20,37,38). Moreover, countries from Eastern Europe have more limited capacities for organizing population screening and usually lack the high-quality data for measuring the occurrence of breast cancer (38).

In Romania, breast cancer represents the main cause of cancer-related mortality in females, presenting an increased number over the years and a constant proportion of 16% of all cancer-related deaths. The mortality model is worsening, and this increased the health gap compared to the EU female population. All of these facts represent urgent reasons for acting for planning and implementing an organized, population-based screening.

As an EU member, Romania has been concerned in the last decade about the need for implementing a population-based breast cancer screening. Opportunities for developing such a program have been prioritized in the Partnership Agreement with EU for 2014-2020(39). Under this framework, an important project for developing breast cancer screening is planned: ‘Operational Program Human Capital (project no. 120799) (40). Increasing the institutional capacity and professional competencies of health system specialists is needed in order to implement the National Breast Cancer Screening Program. In its first phase, this project aims to build capacity in the country by creating a reference center for regional breast cancer screening programs, by developing a national standardized methodology for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and early treatment of breast cancer, in accordance with European guidelines, and by providing training for the medical workforce (40). Increase in awareness of the general population and vulnerable groups for attending the breast cancer screening is also a priority objective, in the context in which information campaigns for screening programs lacking in Romania are up to date (38). The second phase of the project is under preparation and there is expected to provide breast screening in four regions of the country, targeting a minimum of 30,000 women aged 50-69 years, with a focus on vulnerable groups: Operational Program Human Capital Applicants Guideline ‘Be responsible for your health-regional programs for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and early treatment for breast cancer-phase 2’ (41).

This project is essential in the existing country context and there is expected that, after its successful implementation (planned to end in 2023), breast screening will be provided throughout the country. However, about three million women aged 50-69 years live in Romania at present according to Eurostat database (24). If we consider only this age-group for mammography screening, and only one examination every three years for each woman, which is below the European Guideline, the project will cover around 1% of the eligible population. This means that more efforts and resources should be concentrated to organize a population breast cancer screening in Romania in the next years, in order to speed up the process of ensuring proper access for all eligible women, on ethical premises, and also to slow the upward trend of breast cancer-related mortality.

Breast cancer represents an important public health issue in Romania, through the trend in the increasing number of deaths and mortality in the last decade and through its contribution to lower life expectancy. The absence of an organized population screening in the country will aggravate the gap in breast cancer mortality between Romania and the EU in the near future.

Romania has concrete and consistent opportunities to develop a population screening for breast cancer in the upcoming years. These opportunities seem to be relevant, but far from sufficient for covering the eligible population on short-term basis. More efforts and resources should be concentrated in the next years in order to ensure universal access to breast screening for eligible women, and to control the gap in health status between Romania and the EU.