Breast cancer - Health cuts a matter of life and death

WOMEN in outlying regions have reason to be concerned over the latest evidence of how spending cuts are adversely affecting the creaking health service.

Of particular concern is the reported delay in the development of breast surgery in the South East where efforts to create a regional centre are being hit by Government cutbacks, a scenario that assumes added significance because of the high incidence of breast cancer in this country.

The problem is highlighted by the observations of a Spanish consultant surgeon serving hospitals at Cashel, Clonmel and Waterford. Ironically, he was appointed as part of a major breast cancer initiative when Waterford was nominated as a centre for breast surgery.