We have just finished the breast cancer campaign Pink ribbon. The theme this year was early detection because we know it saves lives. In Norway, we have had a public mammography program since 1996. All women aged 50–69 are offered an X-ray examination of their breasts every quarter of a year. The goal is that fewer people die by detecting breast cancer as early as possible. Studies show that the screening program saves more than 100 women each year. The truth is that with a few simple steps I can save many more people. Today, the mammography program uses the same invitation, examination, number of invitations and screenings and image assessment as when it started in 1996. Technology and knowledge have made great strides, and now the mammography program must also change its pace. If we are to have a good and viable screening program for breast cancer, we must invest in new technology. Several studies, also Norwegian, show that artificial intelligence can help breast radiologists find the aggressive tumors more easily and quickly. It is these tumors that can develop into life-threatening, and which must be caught and treated before they spread. In addition, artificial intelligence will be able to help radiologists filter out women without breast cancer. Artificial intelligence can thus reduce the disadvantages and increase the advantages of screening. At the same time, it can relieve the chest radiologists, who are in short supply in Norway and Europe. With artificial intelligence, the machines can take care of large parts of the screening, while the radiologists can spend more of their time on examinations with suspicious findings and more complicated cases. If we do that, we can probably provide more personalized screening for women with an increased risk of breast cancer. We can also open up to invite both younger and older women in the program. Today, the EU and part of the international professional community are advocating an extension of the age group, which I support. We rejoiced when we saw that the government in the state budget for the very first time gave money for artificial intelligence in the Mammography programme. NOK 10 million is a good start to upgrade the IT system, so that it can speak the language that artificial intelligence speaks. But if we are to succeed with the implementation of artificial intelligence itself, we are completely dependent on the politicians setting aside more money in the coming years. Only then will we be able to give new generations of Norwegian women a state-of-the-art and safe screening program for breast cancer.
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Artificial intelligence can save more women’s lives – Statement
