Breast Cancer advocates with personal experience of breast cancer, came together with members of Donegal County Community Forum to a Breast Screening Seminar, at the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny in October, which also coincided with ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’.
Organised by Donegal County Community Forum, a group representing the community and voluntary sector in Donegal, this seminar was aimed at providing the women of Donegal with the opportunity to focus on the urgent need to extend the Breast Cancer Screening Programme to the North West and to access information on Breast Awareness and care.
Mary McMenamin, Breast Care Specialist at Letterkenny General Hospital gave a presentation on Breast Examination and Care. She outlined the importance of early detection and also gave an overview of the services provided by the Breast Care unit.
In her keynote address, Marian Harkin, MEP, stated that "It is a top priority that the women of Donegal receive their letters to attend Breastcheck, the National Breast Screening Service immediately. Breastcheck was promised by the end of Autumn 2007 but has still not been rolled out and are still awaiting firm dates for the mobile unit for Donegal and it is crucial that no further time is lost. In the meantime if any woman has any concerns she should visit her GP immediately and not wait for Breastcheck.
The EU Age Standardised Incidence Rate of Female Breast Cancer in 2006 shows Ireland with the 2nd highest incidence, 2nd only to Belgium, in fact the incidence in Ireland is approximately 20% higher than the EU average, indicating that any further delay in the Rollout of Breastcheck is unacceptable".
Standing Left to Right: Síle Uí Ghallchóir, County Community Forum, Mairín Uí Fhearraigh, CCF, Marian Harkin, MEP, Seamus Mac Ruairí, CCF, Ann McGowan, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson, CCF, Mary McMenamin, Breast Care Specialist. Seated: Breid Neely, Donegal County Council, Mary English, CCF and Cath Waugh, CCF.
Ann McGowan, an advocate for cancer services in the North West, gave and an overview of her personal story on the history of her cancer journey and the challenges that she encountered on that journey.
Participants were invited to divide into groups to focus in detail on what they would like to see happen in Donegal with regard Breast Screening services. The following are some of the key points highlighted among the members:
- Full Breast Screening service should be available for all-age groups, regardless of economic circumstance. Should women from Donegal have to travel to Belfast for Breast Screening services?
- Continue to fact find on services available in relation to patient care for public and private patients e.g. will patients without medical insurance be referred to the new private hospital in Letterkenny, when it is operational?
Closing the event, Cath Waugh, Donegal County Community Forum acknowledged that a common theme throughout the discussions was the sense that citizens feel frustrated by the lack of clarity as to the roll out of Breast Screening services in Donegal. She pledged that Donegal County Community Forum will bring the conclusions and suggestions back to Donegal County Development Board and that a report will also be sent to the HSE and Politicians and other parties for their attention.
The purpose of this seminar was to raise awareness about Breast Cancer Screening and to support the campaign to ensure the availability of Breast Cancer Screening in the North West. Donegal County Community Forum will continue to advocate and lobby on behalf of women in Donegal, for the immediate roll out of Breast Check, the National Breast Screening Programme, in Donegal.
For more information locally, contact
Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72573
Email: bneely@donegalcoco.ie