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.

Hospital consultants, opposition politicians and breast cancer organisations have strongly demanded the extension for five years. A group of breast cancer sufferers from the Cork are seeking an urgent meeting with Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney on the issue when she travels to Cork for the Progressive Democrats annual conference this weekend.

Cancer specialists in Cork have already estimated that 65 women are dying each year in the West and South because their cancers are being diagnosed too late.

Under the BreastCheck programme, free breast X-rays are offered to healthy women so cancerous growths can be detected before they can be felt and so mastectomies, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be avoided.

Professor Michael Kerin, Professor of surgery at University College Hospital, Galway told the Irish Medical Times there were 2,194 breast cancers recorded in Galway from 1984-2004. A third of these were in women aged 50-64, the category screened by BreastCheck.

"This is a very telling statistic. This is a serious, real problem and I think everyone should get involved to ensure expansion is moved up on the Government's agenda," he told a meeting of cancer experts in Dublin Castle.

He also wants the age limit for screening widened, as two thirds of the Galway cases were outside the screening age group.

Breastcare nurse at the South Infirmary in Cork, Margaret Shanahan said 70% of their breast cancer patients were aged 50-65. They were aware their diagnosis could have been earlier if they lived in the East.

"We were told we were getting the programme in 2002 and now we have a building ready and a business plan in place, but we can't get further sanction from the Department of Health. It is very frustrating but, more to the point, it is costing lives," she added.