Diagnosing breast cancer

Sir, – The article “Clinics see women within two weeks” (November 19th), incorrectly reported that the Mater Breast Unit diagnosed…

Sir, – The article “Clinics see women within two weeks” (November 19th), incorrectly reported that the Mater Breast Unit diagnosed 125 breast cancers in 2010. The correct number is 215 breast cancers, which is comparable with the other seven specialist breast units. The article then stated that the unit at Cork University Hospital diagnosed three times more breast cancers than the Mater, which is factually incorrect and portrays the Mater in a poor light.

Breast cancer services in the Mater Hospital have developed with the national cancer control programme and are second to none, as reflected by the very positive findings of the Key Performance Indicator Report for the NCCP Symptomatic Breast Services 2010. We believe the ongoing improvement in breast cancer survival in Ireland will continue as a consequence of the work done by the Mater and the seven other cancer centres as long as financial support can be maintained. With this in mind, we hope that journalistic coverage is accurate and supportive to the continued improvement in cancer care within Ireland. – Yours, etc,

CLARE SMITH MB BCh BAO,

FFR (RCSI), MALCOLM R

KELL MBChB, FRCSGlasg,

FRCSI, MD, Lead Clinicians,

Breasthealth,

Mater Misericordiae University

Hospital, Dublin 7.