BreastCheck: the minister must take action now
Of course, women with clinical signs of a tumour will be seen, but the lack of clinical signs doesn't exclude the possibility of malignancy. There may be a tumour which will only be revealed by a mammogram. That is the rationale behind screening programmes and a two-year wait will put women at serious risk of unnecessary death.
All women over 50 are advised to have mammograms every two years in order to detect breast tumours early. Women in Cork do not as yet have access to the screening programme, so they have to present themselves voluntarily for mammography. We are urged to take a proactive attitude to our health. However, it appears that when women in Cork (and other parts of Ireland) do just this, the facilities are not there.
As BreastCheck will not be available in the region until mid 2007, we urge the health minister to investigate the use of private facilities so that the women on the waiting list can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Deirdre O'Connell
Chair
Europa Donna Ireland
The Irish Breast Cancer Campaign
PO Box 6602
Dublin 8
