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WOMEN in Donegal aged
50 to 64 will have access to free mammograms from
next month with the arrival of BreastCheck after a
ten-year wait.
The National Cancer Screening Service yesterday
confirmed that BreastCheck appointments are
scheduled to begin in the county in early October.
Women attending will be screened at a mobile digital
screening unit located in the grounds of Donegal
Public Services Centre in Donegal Town.
The service invites women for screening on an
area-by-area basis and screening will continue in Co
Donegal until all eligible women have been offered
an appointment. More than 1,800 women in the Donegal
Town area will be the first to be invited for
screening over the coming three months. It is
expected that the service will then move to other
parts.
In the coming days, eligible women in Donegal Town
and surrounding areas will begin receiving letters
from BreastCheck. Following this, women will
automatically receive an appointment by post, giving
a minimum of seven days' notice of their
appointment.
The organisation advises all women aged 50 to 64 to
check that they are on the BreastCheck register.
National Cancer Screening Service ceo Tony O’Brien
yesterday encouraged all women invited for a
mammogram to attend their appointment. “The aim of
BreastCheck is to reduce deaths from breast cancer
by finding and treating the disease at an early
stage. I strongly encourage every woman invited to
take this valuable opportunity to look after their
health," said Mr O'Brien. Meanwhile, yesterday's
news was welcomed by cancer groups including
Co-operating for Cancer Care NW who said they were
"delighted" the service was finally due to arrive in
the county. Breast cancer is one of the most common
cancers among women in Ireland. Official figures
show that 1,600 new cases are diagnosed each year.
If detected early, breast cancer is very treatable,
according to cancer experts. Women in Donegal are
advised to check they are on the BreastCheck
register by calling freephone 1800 45 45 55 or
checking online at
www.breastcheck.ie . |
