Breast cancer found every 5 hours

THERE is a new breast cancer diagnosis made every five hours in Ireland, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

Launching Breast Cancer Awareness Month, consultant medical oncologist Dr John Kennedy said provisional breast cancer statistics for 1999 show that 1,738 women were diagnosed with the disease, up from 1,687 cases in 1998.

He warned that delays in fully implementing the national breast screening programme is costing lives.