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The impending arrival of the Breast Check cancer
screening unit to Buncrana has been welcomed by
Noelle Duddy of Co-operating for Cancer Care North
West. The unit will start receiving patients in
November.
by Eamonn Mac Dermott, Inishowen Independent
More than 3,000 additional women are now eligible to
be tested here in the ten years it has taken the
National Screening Programme to be delivered in
Inishowen.
“When Breast Check first was rolled out in the east
of the country in 2000 there were 10,500 women in
Donegal in the target group. Now in 2010 there are
over 13,500 women eligible.
“It is absolutely necessary that all future
screening services are rolled out on a national
basis and not on a piecemeal way that Breast Check
was done.
“When the cervical screening was rolled out it was
done on a national basis and hopefully it will be
the same when they roll out colon/rectal screening.
“It is not acceptable that one section of the
population can benefit to the detriment of the
other.”
The new unit is due to arrive in Buncrana at the end
of November and will remain here for 16 weeks.
Noelle Duddy urged all women to take part in the
breast screening. She said: “As we know there has
been a unit from Breast Check based in Donegal Town
for some time and it has been looking after women in
that area.
“Now the county will have two units and that has to
be welcomed. The unit in Donegal Town will be moving
to Letterkenny and the one in Buncrana will be here
until the end of March.”
She went on: “All women in the area aged between 50
and 64 should have received a letter with all the
information they need to avail of the services of
Breast Check.
“If women, for whatever reason do not want to be
screened by Breast Check and this may be due to the
fact they are already getting screened, then I would
urge them to contact the group so that the records
can be updated.”
Ms Duddy also reminded people that Breast Check
caters for people with disabilities.
She said: “If anyone has a problem with a disability
they should contact breast Check on 0800454555 or
else on the website at www.breastcheck.ie and ask
for the access officer.”
Noelle Duddy said she hoped that the National
Screening Programme had learned from their
experience of rolling out Breast Check.
Noelle Duddy also reassured women who had heard
stories about breast screening.
She said: “Some people have heard it is painful and
uncomfortable. It is a bit uncomfortable but well
worth it.
“If a women gets screened they will know the status
of their breast health.
“While Breast Check is to be welcomed women should
not wait until the service comes here. If a women
notices any of the symptoms of breast cancer they
should go straight to their GP.” |
