EU Screening Week
Image note: People shown in campaign visuals are AI-generated.
Radiology saves lives.
Get screened
EU Screening Week is a new European initiative putting prevention and early detection in the spotlight and encouraging people to take a more active role in understanding their health.
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) recognises this week as an important opportunity to highlight the role of radiology in prevention and early detection. While this year’s European focus is primarily on cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar under the motto “know your numbers”, cardiovascular radiology can provide additional information about changes already developing inside the body, often before symptoms appear.
Cardiovascular disease is closely linked to cancer, often sharing the same lifestyle-related risk factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, poor diet, and lack of exercise, which means that having one risk factor can increase the risk of multiple problems.
During the EU Screening Week, the ESR is therefore highlighting how imaging and radiologists contribute to earlier detection and better-informed care in cardiovascular disease, as well as in breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer, where radiology plays an established role.
The role of radiology
Radiology can reveal changes inside the body that may not yet be causing noticeable symptoms. Techniques such as mammography, CT, and MRI can help detect disease earlier, assess individual risk, and guide further investigation or treatment.
But radiology is more than the image itself. A radiologist is a medical doctor specialising in medical imaging. Radiologists interpret these images, identify suspicious changes, and help determine what should happen next.
By combining advanced imaging with medical expertise, radiology can create opportunities for earlier diagnosis, prevention, and more personalised care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is further expanding these possibilities. When used responsibly, AI can support radiologists in analysing medical images, improve diagnostic workflows, and contribute to earlier disease detection. As highlighted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2026 State of the European Union speech, the role of AI is to empower healthcare professionals, not replace them.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. It includes coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and other diseases of the circulatory system.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the European Union, claiming around 1.7 million lives each year, accounting for around 1 in 3 deaths. Many heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular events occur in people who were not previously known to be at high risk.
One of the main causes of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits known as plaques gradually build up in the walls of the arteries. This process can develop over many years without causing noticeable symptoms, meaning that cardiovascular disease may already be present before a person knows anything is wrong.
Why early risk detection matters
Preventing cardiovascular disease starts with understanding your risk. Factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, age, and family history can all increase the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.
However, risk factors only tell part of the story. Radiology can show changes in the arteries and reveal signs of disease that may already be developing, even when you feel completely healthy.
Identifying these changes early can provide doctors with a clearer picture of your individual risk and help them decide whether preventive measures, such as lifestyle changes or medication, may be appropriate.
How imaging can reveal hidden cardiovascular risk
Computed tomography (CT) can detect calcium build-up in the arteries that supply the heart, known as coronary artery calcium (CAC). This can be a sign of underlying cardiovascular disease and provide valuable information about your risk alongside factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol.
Importantly, these signs can sometimes be identified on CT scans already performed for another reason, such as lung cancer screening or a routine chest examination. This can provide additional information about cardiovascular health without another scan or additional radiation exposure.
Artificial intelligence may also help radiologists identify and measure these signs and make better use of information already contained in medical images.
The ESR Patient Advisory Group has created an image-based poster to help patients understand what to expect before, during, and after a CT scan. By using images rather than text, it provides information at a glance, helps overcome language barriers, and can make patients feel more informed and prepared for their screening appointment.
Know your numbers
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Blood sugar
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, often without causing noticeable symptoms.
Knowing your numbers can help identify risk early and allow you and your healthcare provider to take preventive action.
Your radiologist
Your radiologist is a medical doctor specialising in medical imaging. By examining CT images, radiologists can recognise signs of cardiovascular disease that may not yet be causing symptoms and assess findings that may provide important information about your cardiovascular risk.
Radiology can therefore do more than help diagnose disease. By recognising early warning signs on medical images, your radiologist can provide information that helps your healthcare team better understand your cardiovascular risk and identify opportunities for prevention.
ESR advocacy for cardiovascular prevention
The ESR is advocating for radiology to play a greater role in cardiovascular disease prevention across Europe. This includes incorporating imaging into cardiovascular health checks alongside established assessments such as blood pressure and cholesterol, and making better use of information already available from CT scans performed for lung cancer screening or other clinical reasons.
As part of this work, the ESR is contributing to the EU Safe Hearts Plan–Europe’s first comprehensive strategy for cardiovascular health. The ESR is calling for imaging to be recognised as an important tool for earlier risk detection, personalised prevention, and more effective cardiovascular care.
Resources
ESR Patient Advisory Group (PAG) statement on the EU Safe Hearts Plan
Read the ESR PAG statement on cardiovascular imaging and the EU Safe Hearts Plan ↗, highlighting why early diagnosis and equitable access to imaging and specialist radiological expertise are essential to improving cardiovascular care across Europe.
ESR and ESCR policy briefing on the EU Safe Hearts Plan
Learn more from the ESR and ESCR policy briefing ↗ on delivering the EU Safe Hearts Plan, highlighting the essential role of radiology and specialist imaging expertise in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
Know your risk before symptoms appear
Cardiovascular disease can develop silently for many years. Understanding your risk can help you take steps to protect your heart before symptoms appear.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your cardiovascular risk and what preventive measures may be appropriate for you.
Miloš Nikolić
ESR Patient Advisory Group member
“Living through serious heart disease and ultimately receiving a heart transplant taught me something I wish I had understood much earlier: we should not wait for our heart to tell us that something is wrong. Knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar is a simple first step. When risk is identified, timely and appropriate cardiovascular imaging can help us understand what those numbers mean for our heart. Early detection gives patients something incredibly valuable — the opportunity to act.”
Christel Put
“At first, my cardiac scan looked almost completely normal. But my radiologist wanted certainty. He asked me to repeat the examination, and the second scan revealed what the first had almost missed. Because one doctor looked a little closer, I am still here.”
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. It can develop in different parts of the breast and there are several different types.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. In 2022, around 605,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the WHO European Region, including approximately 375,000 in the EU-27. Around 1 in 11 women in the EU-27 will develop breast cancer before the age of 74.
Although the risk of breast cancer increases with age, it can also affect younger women. Around 20% of breast cancer cases in Europe occur in women under the age of 50.
Why does breast cancer screening matter?
Breast cancer screening aims to find cancer early, often before a lump can be felt or other symptoms appear. Earlier detection can improve the chances of successful treatment and may reduce the need for more aggressive treatments.
Mammography is the main screening method, using low-dose X-rays to detect very small cancers. Other imaging methods may also be used depending on a woman’s individual risk and breast density. Ultrasound can provide additional information in some women with dense breasts, while MRI plays an important role for women at higher risk, such as those with a strong family history or certain genetic changes.
Screening is becoming more personalised. Factors such as age, family history, genetics, and breast density can help doctors assess a woman’s individual risk and determine which imaging methods and screening intervals may be most appropriate.
Artificial intelligence is also emerging as a valuable support tool in breast cancer screening. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted in her 2026 State of the European Union speech, mammography screening reduces mortality among women who participate in screening programmes and AI-supported mammography can identify earlier and more cancers during screening, helping improve outcomes for women.
What happens during a mammography?
During a mammography, each breast is placed between two plates and gently compressed for a few seconds while X-ray images are taken. This helps create clear, detailed images of the breast using a low dose of radiation. You may find the pressure uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a short time and the examination itself usually takes just a few minutes.
The images are then carefully reviewed by radiologists, medical doctors specialising in medical imaging, who look for any changes in the breast tissue that may need further investigation.
The ESR Patient Advisory Group has created an image-based poster to help patients understand what to expect before, during and after a mammography scan. By using images rather than text, it provides information at a glance, helps overcome language barriers, and can make patients feel more informed and prepared for their screening appointment.
Your radiologist
Your radiologist is a medical doctor specialising in medical imaging and an important part of your breast screening care. They are specially trained to recognise even very small changes in breast tissue, helping to spot possible signs of cancer before they can be seen or felt.
If your mammogram shows something that needs a closer look, your radiologist will help decide what happens next. This might mean taking additional mammogram images or using ultrasound or MRI to get a clearer picture. Being called back for further checks does not mean that you have cancer, and many changes found during screening turn out to be harmless.
By bringing together medical knowledge, experience, and advanced imaging, radiologists help determine whether further investigation is needed and ensure that concerning changes are assessed as early as possible. Radiology therefore does more than create images. It provides the medical expertise needed to recognise subtle changes and decide whether further investigation is necessary.
Who can be screened?
European recommendations support mammography screening for women within defined age groups, although the recommended frequency and eligibility criteria vary between countries. Some women may need to begin screening earlier or have additional screening because they have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. This can include women with a strong family history of breast cancer or certain inherited genetic changes.
Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk and the breast cancer screening programme available where you live.
Resources
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) supports high-quality breast cancer screening and appropriate use of radiology for early detection.
EUSOBI position paper on breast cancer screening
Read the latest EUSOBI breast cancer screening recommendations ↗ on why breast cancer screening should take individual risk into account and how imaging can be tailored accordingly.
Be accepted
Be accepted ↗ provides comprehensive support to women diagnosed with breast cancer, accompanying them throughout their entire journey.
The Patient Podcast: Breast Cancer
Listen to breast cancer patients ↗ Caroline Justich and Cheryl Cruwys discuss the role of radiology in breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment, in conversation with Evelyn Steinthaler from the ESR Patient Advisory Group.
BreastSCan
BreastSCan ↗ is a radiology-driven project creating one of Europe’s largest and most diverse breast cancer imaging datasets for advancing AI innovations to improve breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and care.
Get screened
Breast cancer can develop before you notice a lump or any other symptoms. Screening can help find it at an earlier stage, when treatment may be more effective.
If you are eligible for breast cancer screening, don't wait for symptoms. Get screened.
Evelyn Steinthaler
ESR Patient Advisory Group member
“Living a long and healthy life is undoubtedly an aspiration for everyone. What we can do to achieve this is to take an active approach to healthcare, which includes taking part in screening programmes. Anyone preparing for a colonoscopy or a mammogram may be plagued by fears, but the fact is that there is no better feeling than knowing the state of your own health, so don’t bury your head in the sand. As a woman who has been affected by breast cancer, I know how important screening programmes are. They can detect diseases at an early stage and really do save lives!”
Caroline Justich
ESR Patient Advisory Group member
“Did you know that around 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year? Too many still die from a disease that can often be detected earlier and treated effectively. These lives could be saved through three critical strategies: primary prevention, early detection, and access to optimal cancer care. When we prioritise these approaches, we transform millions of lives. Take action today. Attend your screening programmes. Make prevention and early detection part of who you are. When screening becomes a lifestyle choice, not just a medical appointment, we all win.”
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the lungs or airways. There are different types of lung cancer, but the two main groups are non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for around 80% of cases, and small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer is one of Europe’s biggest cancer challenges. It is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe, causing more deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor and is linked to more than 80% of lung cancer cases, but lung cancer can also affect people who have never smoked. Air pollution, radon (invisible, odourless, natural radioactive gas present in almost all rock and soil), asbestos (toxic, heat-resistant mineral fibre once used in building materials) and other environmental or workplace exposures can also increase the risk.
One of the biggest challenges is that lung cancer can develop without noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do appear, the cancer may already be at a more advanced stage. Finding it earlier can mean more treatment options and a better chance of successful treatment.
Why does lung cancer screening matter?
Lung cancer screening is designed to find cancer before symptoms appear. It is intended for people who have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, particularly because of their smoking history.
Lung cancer screening uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), which creates detailed images of the lungs using a much lower radiation dose than a standard chest CT scan.
Screening can reveal lung cancer when it is still small and before it has caused symptoms. Studies have shown that low-dose CT screening of people at high risk can significantly reduce deaths from lung cancer.
What happens during a lung cancer screening CT?
During a low-dose CT scan, you lie on a table that moves through the CT scanner. The scan itself only takes a short time and is painless. Detailed images of your lungs are then created for the radiologist to examine.
The ESR Patient Advisory Group has created an image-based poster to help patients understand what to expect before, during and after a CT scan. By using images rather than text, it provides information at a glance, helps overcome language barriers, and can make patients feel more informed and prepared for their screening appointment.
Your radiologist
At the heart of this process is the radiologist, a medical doctor specialising in medical imaging. Radiologists examine the CT images for small abnormalities or lung nodules that could be an early sign of cancer. They use their medical expertise to determine whether something appears harmless, requires monitoring, or warrants further investigation.
Finding a lung nodule does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. Many lung nodules are harmless. Your radiologist assesses what has been found and whether any follow-up or further tests are needed.
Radiology therefore does more than create images. It puts a doctor’s expertise between an unseen disease and the person it could affect, helping to find lung cancer when there may still be time to treat it effectively.
Who can be screened?
Lung cancer screening is not recommended for everyone. Eligibility usually depends on factors such as age and smoking history, and recommendations and screening programmes may differ between countries.
Access to lung cancer screening still varies considerably across Europe, and organised screening programmes are not yet available everywhere.
Speak to your primary doctor or healthcare provider to find out whether lung cancer screening is recommended for you and what options are available where you live.
Resources
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) works with medical organisations across Europe to support high-quality and equitable lung cancer screening.
SOLACE Knowledge Hub
SOLACE (Strengthening the Screening of Lung Cancer in Europe) is a European project working to improve access to high-quality lung cancer screening and reduce inequalities across Europe. Its Knowledge Hub ↗ provides easy-to-understand information for the public about lung cancer screening, including risk factors, eligibility and what screening involves.
Personal stories
Personal stories
Hear from people who have experienced CT screening for lung cancer and learn about their experiences in their own words. https://hub.solacelung.eu/patients/support/stories/ ↗
The Patient Podcast: Lung cancer screening
Listen to radiologist Marie-Pierre Revel ↗ discuss who should be screened, how lung cancer screening works and why it matters, in conversation with Evelyn Steinthaler from the ESR Patient Advisory Group.
Get screened
Lung cancer can develop before you notice any symptoms, which is why early detection matters.
If you are eligible for screening, don’t wait for symptoms. Get screened.
Marie-Pierre Revel
“Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT takes only a few seconds and is completely painless. If you have smoked for 20 years or more, screening could save your life by detecting lung cancer at a very early stage, when it can still be cured. Radiologists are here to help detect the disease as early as possible”.
Angeliki Souri
ESR PAG member and LuCE Vice-President
“Lung cancer is not something to be ashamed of, and screening is not something to fear. It is a chance to find lung cancer earlier, when there may be more options and more hope. Behind every scan is a person and a possibility—and radiology plays a vital role in turning early detection into action. Across Europe, we must make sure that everyone who could benefit from screening can access it, understand it and act on it. If we are offered screening, we should take that step, as it could change our story”.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells in the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably. The prostate is a small gland found only in men, located below the bladder. Prostate cancer can grow slowly and may never cause serious problems, but some forms can grow more quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over the age of 50 in Europe and remains a major cause of cancer-related death. In 2018, around 107,000 men in Europe died from prostate cancer.
One of the challenges of prostate cancer is that it may not cause noticeable symptoms at an early stage. When prostate cancer is detected early, before it has spread, the chances of successful treatment are much greater.
Why does prostate cancer screening matter?
Prostate cancer screening aims to find cancer before symptoms develop. The first step is usually a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a simple blood test that can indicate whether further investigation is needed. A raised PSA level does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.
If further investigation is needed, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide detailed images of the prostate, helping doctors identify suspicious areas and determine whether a biopsy is needed. If a biopsy is required, MRI can also help guide where tissue samples should be taken.
Combining PSA testing with MRI and information about a man's individual risk can help identify cancers that need treatment while reducing unnecessary biopsies and treatments.
What happens during a prostate MRI?
During a prostate MRI, you lie on a table that moves into the MRI scanner. The scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of your prostate and the surrounding tissues. It does not use X-rays or ionising radiation.
The examination is painless, although you will need to remain still and the scanner can be noisy. The scan takes some time, and you may be given an injection of contrast agent to help produce more detailed images.
Your images are then examined by a radiologist, who looks for areas within the prostate that may need further investigation.
The ESR Patient Advisory Group has created an image-based poster to help patients understand what to expect before, during and after an MRI scan. By using images rather than text, it provides information at a glance, helps overcome language barriers, and can make patients feel more informed and prepared for their screening appointment.
Your radiologist
Your radiologist is a medical doctor specialising in medical imaging who plays an important role in assessing possible prostate cancer. By examining detailed MRI images of the prostate, they can identify suspicious areas and provide information that helps your healthcare team decide what should happen next.
MRI can help distinguish between men who may need a biopsy and those who may be able to avoid one. If a biopsy is necessary, the information from your MRI can also be used to target suspicious areas more precisely.
The radiologist's expertise remains important if cancer is diagnosed. MRI can show the location and extent of a tumour, helping doctors assess the cancer and plan the most appropriate treatment.
Radiology therefore does more than create images. It helps determine whether further investigation is needed and provides information that can guide the next steps in your care.
Who can be screened?
Unlike some other cancers, organised prostate cancer screening is not yet widely available across Europe. However, this is beginning to change as European countries explore how organised, risk-based screening programmes could be introduced.
The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, and some men have a higher risk because of factors such as their family history. Screening decisions should therefore consider a man's individual risk rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
The European Union recommends that Member States evaluate organised prostate cancer screening using PSA testing, with MRI used as a follow-up test where appropriate.
Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk, whether PSA testing may be appropriate for you, and what prostate cancer early detection or screening options are available where you live.
Resources
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) and European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) support organised and equitable prostate cancer screening and the appropriate use of MRI.
PRAISE-U Knowledge Hub
Discover resources from PRAISE-U, an EU-funded project supporting the development and implementation of customised, risk-based prostate cancer screening. Explore the knowledge hub ↗ to find country-specific screening fact sheets, project publications and data from pilot sites.
Get screened
Prostate cancer can develop without causing noticeable symptoms. Finding a potentially harmful cancer before it spreads can provide more treatment options and improve the chances of successful treatment. Get screened.
Erik Briers
ESR Patient Advisory Group member and Chair of the Europa Uomo Board
“Prostate cancer is the ‘leading’ cancer for men and one of the leading (2nd) cause of cancer related death for men. Prostate cancer cannot be prevented and it can only be treated curatively if detected in time in a localised stage. This is only possible through an organised risk based population screening. In the screening project (PRAISE-U) MRI takes center stage after detection of a real risk through a PSA test. This MRI of the prostate will guide persons with a high risk to biopsies. Persons with a low-risk will return for screening in one year. They don’t become patients yet. Through screening we will hopefully discover more men with localised cancer that if of low risk will be referred to active surveillance, the perfect treatment for this condition”.
Prof. Geert Villeirs
President of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR)
“Early detection is not simply about finding more prostate cancers. It is about finding the cancers that matter. Prostate MRI is transforming this paradigm, making screening more precise and helping patients receive the right care at the right time.”
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