BreastCheck inviting women of Rathmines and surrounding areas

2 August 2012

Until mid-September BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme will be inviting women aged 50 to 64 living in Rathmines, parts of Ranelagh, Rathgar, Milltown and Donnybrook villages to avail of a free mammogram (x-ray) in the BreastCheck mobile digital screening unit located on the grounds of Leopardstown Park Hospital, South County Business Park, Leopardstown Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18.

While many women have attended from this area for their mammograms in the past, the attendance during the last round of screening was lower despite continued efforts to promote the programme.

Women aged 50 to 64 living within the community, both those who have attended previously and those attending for the first time, are encouraged to ensure they receive an invitation, consider the benefits of the programme and are reassured that every effort will be made to ensure that they can attend.

If the appointment time or date doesn’t suit, a woman can easily change it by calling BreastCheck on (01) 2235800. Where a woman has genuine difficulty in accessing the grounds of Leopardstown Park hospital, every effort will be made to reschedule to the Merrion Unit located at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Merrion Road, Dublin 4. If a woman’s contact details have changed please let us know by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55.

Sheila Caulfield, Head of Communications said, “Attending a mammogram appointment is vital as screening can detect early breast cancer, and where breast cancer is found early it is likely to be easier to treat. Unfortunately some women don’t attend for their free mammogram, and we would encourage any woman who has received an invitation to attend. The vast majority of women screened are found to be perfectly healthy, with less than one per cent diagnosed with breast cancer.”

BreastCheck encourages all women aged 50 to 64 living in the area to check that they are on the BreastCheck register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or checking online at www.breastcheck.ie. Once registered and known to the Programme they will automatically receive an appointment when BreastCheck is screening in their area.

BreastCheck encourages all women, regardless of age or participation in screening to remain breast aware at all times and to contact their GP without delay if they have any concerns regarding breast cancer.

Be breast aware

No matter what age you are, it is important to always be breast aware.

• Know what is normal for your body.
• Know what changes you should look for.

What changes should I look and feel for?

• Any lumps or unusual thickening in your breast
• Dimpling, puckering or redness of the skin
• A nipple that appears to be pulled-in or flattened
• A rash or flaky or crusted skin around the nipple
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• Swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone
• Constant pain in one part of your breast or armpit

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Further Information:

Sheila Caulfield/Aoife O’Sullivan, Communications, National Cancer Screening Service
Tel: 01 8659300

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Background Information:

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Ireland. Nearly 2,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year. If detected early, breast cancer is very treatable.

BreastCheck

BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme, contacts women aged 50 to 64 every two years to offer a free mammogram (breast x-ray). Although the mammogram will not pick up all breast cancers, services like BreastCheck have significantly reduced deaths from breast cancer in other countries. Less than one per cent of women screened are diagnosed with cancer. These women are offered the best treatment available with the best possible outcome. The service is Government-funded. www.breastcheck.ie

Note: BreastCheck compiles a register (a list) of all women eligible for screening from details supplied by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, General Medical Service (GMS) and Health Insurance providers.