A mammogram ( breast x ray ) can find cancer up to 4 years before a woman would notice a sign herself.
Finding smaller cancers saves lives and may increase your chances of having shorter, easier treatment.
The BreastCheck register is a record of all women who are due to have a mammogram. Call freephone: 1800 45 45 55 to check if you are onthe register. Accept your BreastCheck invitations from age 50 to 69 and continue to have mammograms every 2 years into your 70's.
A mammogram ( breast x ray ) can find cancer up to 4 years before a woman would notice a sign herself.
Finding smaller cancers saves lives and may increase your chances of having shorter, easier treatment.
The BreastCheck register is a record of all women who are due to have a mammogram. Call freephone: 1800 45 45 55 to check if you are onthe register. Accept your BreastCheck invitations from age 50 to 69 and continue to have mammograms every 2 years into your 70's.
BreastCheck is a free service and meets all the best international standards for a national screening programme. At the moment women aged 50-69 are invited by letter for a free breast x-ray every two years; if the time/date is not suitable you will have the option of changing it. The service operates area by area, so if you hear that women in your area are receiving invitations and you have not received one (and are in that age group), you should ring BreastCheck to make an appointment. The appointment will take approximately 30 minutes and the vast majority of women are perfectly healthy. If you are found to have a breast cancer the likelihood is that it is in the very early stages and will be treated very successfully.
Our policy on screening
EDI supports the work of BreastCheck, The National Breast Screening Programme, and welcomes the long delayed roll out of screening to the south and west of the country. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation, the reduction in mortality from breast cancer between the ages of 50 and 69 who chose to participate in screening programmes was estimated to be about 35%. For women aged 40 to 49 there is only limited evidence for a reduction. At European level, EUROPA DONNA in conjunction with relevant agencies continually reviews the medical evidence in this regard.
For more information on screening see the BreastCheck website . You will also find information there as to where in the country BreastCheck is currently screening.
BreastCheck has issued the following factsheet on the issue of Age and Screening:
POPULATION-BASED BREAST CANCER SCREENING
BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme provides free mammograms to women aged 50 to 69 on an area by area basis every two years.
Incidence of Breast Cancer
In Ireland over 70 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50 years of age. While the incidence of breast cancer in women aged 40-49 is increasing, the incidence is still approximately 50 per cent lower than that for the 50-59 age group.
BreastCheck invites women aged 50-69 for regular screening as the incidence of breast cancer is highest in this age group.
Screening Age Reduction
Despite lower mortality from breast cancer at younger ages, the effectiveness of screening below age 50 remains an issue of debate.
Several randomised controlled trials in screening have included younger age groups but have not confirmed significant reduction in mortality in the 40-49 age group.
In 1991, the NHS set up a large randomised controlled trial to measure the effectiveness of screening women from age 40. The trial is ongoing and interim results indicate that a reduction in breast cancer mortality is likely to be observed. However the size of the reduction is uncertain and awaits further follow-up.
In 2008 the Board of the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) commissioned an internal review to examine the evidence for reducing the lower screening age limit from 50 to 47 years. The review concluded that while a reduction in screening age might be of some benefit to some younger women, the merits of extending the programme age range downwards from a population-based screening perspective is still a matter of debate.
The review did not change the overall view that while the case for extending the age downwards is now stronger than it used to be, the case for extending the programme to older women was still stronger.
Screening Age Extension
The incidence and risk of breast cancer in women increases with age. Following the completion of first round screening nationally and subject to the provision of additional resources, the Board of the National Screening Service has approved extending the upper screening age limit to women aged 69 in accordance with the European Council's recommendation. This decision has been taken in line with Government policy and the National Cancer Control Strategy (2006).
Mammography in Women Under 50 Years
Mammography has a role to play in the diagnosis of younger women who are symptomatic. These women should be referred to a specialist breast centre for assessment and management.
BreastCheck encourages all women, regardless of age or participation in screening to remain breast aware at all times and to contact their GP without delay if they have any concerns regarding breast cancer.
For more information on screening see the BreastCheck website at www.breastcheck.ie
