CLARIFICATION REGARDING BREASTCHECK SCREENING OF WOMEN IN CO LEITRIM
- 03 September 2009
The National Cancer Screening Service is pleased to confirm that BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme has begun inviting women aged 50 to 64 living in Co Leitrim for their free mammograms (breast x-rays).
To deliver the BreastCheck service to women in Co Leitrim at the earliest possible date, women iving in Co Leitrim are being invited for screening at a mobile digital screening unit located in either Co Roscommon or north Co Sligo. When BreastCheck returns to routinely screen women in Co Leitrim in two years time, a mobile digital screening unit will be located in the county.
For ease of access, women living in south Co Leitrim are invited for screening at a BreastCheck mobile digital screening unit located in the grounds of Roscommon County Hospital, Athlone Road, Roscommon. Women living in north Co Leitrim will be invited for screening at a BreastCheck mobile digital screening unit located in the grounds of Sligo Retail Park, Dublin Road, Sligo.
There are approximately 3,000 eligible women aged 50-64 living in Co Leitrim and many have already received letters from BreastCheck with information about breast screening. Following this, women will automatically receive an appointment by post. If the original screening location offered by BreastCheck does not suit, women are encouraged to contact the BreastCheck Western Unit on 091 580 600 if they wish to rearrange.
It is expected to take approximately three months to screen all eligible women and BreastCheck advises women aged 50-64 to check that they are on the BreastCheck register. Once on the register and known to the Programme, women will automatically receive a BreastCheck appointment. Women can check that they are on the register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or checking online at www.breastcheck.ie.
The Government-funded programme is offered to women aged 50 to 64 on a two-yearly cycle and BreastCheck urges all invited women to attend their appointment. A BreastCheck mammogram is a simple procedure and an appointment takes about half an hour in total. The aim of screening is to detect early breast cancer. The vast majority of women screened are found to be perfectly healthy with less than one per cent diagnosed with cancer.
-Ends-