Madam, - Women in the Republic are surely entitled to as good a chance of surviving breast cancer as their sisters in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. The significant decline in the death rate from breast cancer in Northern Ireland, while death rates in the Republic remain constant, as illustrated by the All-Ireland Cancer Statistics 1998-2000 report, is at least partially attributable to the fact that Northern Ireland has had a screening programme since 1993.
For several years Europa Donna Ireland, The Irish Breast Cancer Campaign, has called for the extension of the BreastCheck screening programme to the whole of Ireland. While we accept that the Minister is committed to rolling out the programme, we wish to see the necessary funding allocated now so we can be sure that the promised deadline of 2005 will be achieved. We also wish to see screening extended to all women up to the age of at least 69, as recommended by the European Parliament Resolution on Breast Cancer (2003), the third edition of the European Code Against Cancer (2003) and the European Commission Recommendation, also issued in 2003 and adopted by the Council of Ministers. To delay this extension further will result in the loss of a significant number of lives.
Younger women who are at high risk because of family factors should have access to regular and appropriate investigation. Women also need to be made aware that those outside the age range covered by screening may develop breast cancer. - Yours, etc.,
DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, Chairperson, Europa Donna Ireland, Dublin 8.