Breast cancer experts demand funding for clinics

THE Government must urgently fund the country’s specialist breast clinics as many are not properly staffed or equipped, according to breast cancer experts.

Doctors, nurses and breast cancer survivors called on the Department of Health to address the “patchy nature” of breast cancer care at the first national conference organised by breast cancer advocacy group Europa Donna in Dublin at the weekend.

UCD Professor of Surgery and Royal College of Surgeons president Professor Niall O’Higgins said inequalities in access and standards of care needed to be addressed.

“We must do better soon in Ireland. The knowledge is there, the funding appears to be there, but at present breast cancer services are patchy. Good care is available, but good systems are not in place. It is a matter of considerable urgency when every delay results in unnecessary deaths.”

Europa Donna Ireland chairwoman Deirdre O’Connell urged the Government to publish the next National Cancer Strategy.

“Publication of the new strategy has been promised on several occasions, but it still has not been appeared. We expect that the report will address one of the biggest failings of the current system — its fragmented nature where quality services cannot be accessed by all and where vital staff and equipment are often missing from clinics. For instance, we now expect it will be the end of next year before breast screening is extended to the South and West,” said Ms O’Connell.

Participants, including Breast Check, Action Breast Cancer, the Irish Breast Cancer Nurses Association and cancer support centres ARC and LARRC, also considered a draft Irish Breast Cancer Charter aimed at outlining best practice, so that every woman with a breast abnormality will know what she should expect in terms of screening, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and support.