Minister Alan Dillon is calling for the BreastCheck service be extended to include women over 40 years and over 70 years of age.
The Minister of State says women in Ireland are currently offered free breast screening if they are aged between 50 to 69 with BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme.
He is now requesting that this service be provided to women aged over 40 years and beyond the current 69 years.
Studies by the health Technology Assessments (HTA) show that on average, 3,400 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Ireland. 17% of all cases are in those aged 40-49, while 9% of those diagnosed with breast cancer are aged 70-74.
New guidance issued by the US preventative Services Task Force recommends that all women should have breast cancer screening at age 40 and this should be continued until age 74.
The Fine Gael Minister has been speaking to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about why he is making this request…
