BreastCheck screening - Why not save under-50s?

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, highlighted the danger of cancer at the international cancer summit in Dublin.

Health Minister Mary Harney was in attendance and she stated that she favours a ban on sunbeds as a means of tackling the scourge of skin cancer.

According to the National Cancer Registry, there were 99 deaths from skin cancer in 2007. Thus, banning the underage use of sunbeds should be introduced without further delay.

Cancer diagnosis is devastating for people of any age, but it is especially heartrending for the families of women sufferers in the 35 to 50 age group, because they will often have young children dependent on them. Over 600 women under 50 are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in this country, yet the Government concentrates on screening only those over 50.

By concentrating on women over 50 the BreastCheck programme generates the erroneous impression that breast cancer is not a significant threat to women under that age. Yet it is the leading cause of death of women in the 35 to 50 age group. This issue must be tackled.