80% of breast surgery was avoidable

MORE than 80% of breast cancer sufferers in the West, aged 50-65, have been forced to undergo unnecessary breast removal operations over the past 20 years.

Doctor in Galway are arguing that most of these breast removal operations could have been avoided if breast screening had been introduced in the West.

A national breast screening programme began in Dublin, the midlands and the northeast five years ago, for women aged 50-65. Recently, it was expanded to Carlow, but women in the South and West can't access the lifesaving scheme.