[Cancer screening in Germany: availability and participation]

In Germany, approximately 227,000 women and 249,000 men developed cancer in 2014, and nearly 223,000 patients died from the disease that year. Many cancers are curable or have a very good prognosis when they are diagnosed at an early stage. This is where the concept of early detection examinations comes into play.This article describes the current conditions of and participation in examinations for the early detection of cervical, breast, skin, prostate, and colon cancer as provided by Germany's statutory health services. Participation was derived from claims data from the statutory health insurance system as well as from Germany's mammography screening program (MSP). The survey "German Health Update" (GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS) served as an additional data source. According to the claims data and considering the intended intervals, participation quotas among insured persons who are entitled to participate lie between 16% (colonoscopy) and 48% (Pap test). In 2015, 51.5% of invited women participated in the MSP. The results according to self-reports of the GEDA survey lie in part substantially higher. The results according to the claims data, the MSP, as well as the self-reports suggest that a large part of the population utilizes the examinations. Colon and cervical cancer examinations will be expanded as organized and quality-assured early detection programs with regular invitations and information on benefits and risks. These efforts should contribute to reaching eligible people who have thus far not participated.