It will be 2009 before all 50/64-year-old women who are at risk of breast cancer have received invitations for screening, according to BreastCheck, the breast screening programme.
When screening begins in Kilkenny and Carlow next year, the free service will be available to 50 per cent of all at-risk women.
While the Government describes BreastCheck as a national programme, it is not yet available to women in the south, the west and parts of the east.
Speaking at the publication of BreastCheck's report for 2003, the agency's director, Mr Tony O'Brien, said that €20 million had been provided by the Government in September to expand the scheme to all areas.
The report found that 40 per cent more women were invited for screening last year. Just over 75 per cent of them took up the offer. Although one-quarter of women had not opted for screening, this was still considered a good response, as BreastCheck's target was 70 per cent. Last year, some 52,831 women attended for screening and 2,147 were called back for further assessment. Some 379 cancers were detected.
New BreastCheck units are to be set up in Cork and Galway. Subject to planning permission, these should be ready for patients by early 2007.
Dr Sheelah Ryan, chairwoman of the National Breast Screening Board, who underwent screening earlier this year, said that women had no need to fear the procedure. The entire process only took about 10 minutes.
Dr Fidelma Flanagan, BreastCheck's clinical director, said there was mounting evidence that screening should be provided to women over 64. Mr O'Brien said that widening the age group was a matter for the Government, since a statutory instrument specified the 50-64 age range. It was BreastCheck's duty to include all 50/64-year-olds first, as this was considered to be the highest-risk group. Once a decision was taken to include women over 64, it was likely that they would gradually come into the scheme.
