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PLANS TO move the initial diagnosis and treatment of all breast cancer patients to eight specialist centres is likely to be completed by next March, interim director of the national cancer control programme Prof Tom Keane said yesterday.

While a small group from the northwest protested outside about plans to remove breast cancer services from Sligo General Hospital, Prof Keane told the fourth All-Ireland Cancer Conference at Dublin's Four Seasons Hotel that he hoped to move breast cancer services from Drogheda to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin by next February and services from Sligo General to Galway by next March. The only other breast cancer services which still have to be moved are those at Tallaght hospital and the South Infirmary in Cork. He hopes these will also be moved to designated centres by March.