The proven 20% reduction in deaths from breast cancer in Northern Ireland following its all areas screening programme between 1994 and 2000 contrasted sharply with the fact that the breast cancer death rate was the same in the Republic in 2000 as it was in 1994.

This was one of the points emphasised at the public meeting organised by Independent MEP Marian Harkin in support of the campaign to have the Breast Check Screening Programme extended to the North West.

The meeting held in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon on Monday last heard from cancer experts that a substantial reduction in deaths from breast cancer would be achieved if early detection, facilitated by Breast Check, was implemented throughout the country.  At present five women per day were diagnosed with breast cancer and two each day died from the disease, the meeting was told.

Opening the meeting Marian Harkin cited the advances made in Northern Ireland as a result of it’s Breast Check programme and this emphasised the need to raise awareness among women of the disease and the need for pressure to be exerted to have the service provided in the North West.

Deirdre O’Connell from the Irish section of Europa Donna, the European Breast Cancer coalition spoke of the need to lobby politicians and policy makers.  She said that Government promises in 2003 and 2005 to roll out the Breast Check Programme to all regions had been broken and it’s new commitment to deliver the service by 2007 was by no means assured as it depended on the availability of finance.

She stressed that screening should be available to women over 65 years of age as one third of all diagnosed cases were in women over 65.  She also emphasised the need for psychological support for women and their families where breast cancer had been diagnosed.

General Practitioner Dr. Martina Cogan spoke of the increased incidence of breast cancer and the fear many women had of being diagnosed.  This was a particularly difficult situation as early detection was the key to the successful treatment of the disease, she said.

Jean Gallagher, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Breast Care in Sligo Hospital spoke of her work and reassured women of the excellent services provided in the hospital. She said that it was a grave disservice to women that the Breast Check service was not yet available in the North West and she stressed the right of all women in all areas to have equal access to breast screening.

Bernie O’Donnell, Clinical Nurse Manager, Oncology Day Ward in Sligo General Hospital said that women needed to be more proactive in relation to their own health.  Women in the North West were being disenfranchised by not having access to Breast Check, she said.   She emphasised that if breast cancer was detected early that it was highly amenable to treatment.  She stressed the need for women to be made aware of the value of early detection and that there was ‘gold standard’ service for them in Sligo General Hospital.

In the question and answer session many issues were addressed and the need for a continuous awareness programme was emphasised.  Speaking after the meeting Marian Harkin said that petition forms were being distributed and that she was in close touch with the Labour Party which was actively involved in promoting the extension of Breast Check in order to procure as many signatures as possible in the Leitrim and Sligo areas in the coming weeks.

“The purpose of gathering signatures is to have them for presentation to the Tanaiste and Minister for Health on June 29th and to add to those collected in other parts of the country which have to date been denied the vitally necessary Breast Check service”, the Independent TD, MEP said.