Laois TD calls for younger women to get free breast cancer screening

Women aged 40 should be eligible for breast cancer screening under the national BreastCheck programme, according to Laois TD Brian Stanley.

Speaking in the Dáil the independent TD said the free BreastCheck service has brought huge benefits in terms of early detection and has saved many lives.

“It has been a huge step forward in recent years but it needs to be extended further and I ask that the Minister considers this. Women aged between 50 and 69 can avail of it but several women have asked me to make the case for lowering eligibility from the age of 50 down to the age of 40 or 45.

“It would not break the bank to do so. I am raising this as serious issue because breast cancer is a huge issue in this country, as is ovarian cancer which I believe is harder to detect. BreastCheck has really been one of those game-changers and it would be a very positive health measure if we could lower the age at which women are eligible for BreastCheck,” said the Portlaoise - based TD.

The HSE says breast screening helps find cancer at an early stage when you are well and have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer. It adds that if breast cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat and there’s a better chance of recovery.

The programme was set up to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer in Ireland by inviting women aged 50 to 64 for free mammograms every two years. The HSE says that, at its inception, the number of deaths from breast cancer amongst women in Ireland was one of the highest in the EU, making the establishment of BreastCheck a crucial response to this public health challenge.