Councillors back calls for expansion of life-saving BreastCheck service in Clare

Elected members of Clare County Council were unanimous in their support of calls seeking greater access to mammograms and regular self-checks for both women and men.

"She would have been one of the lucky ones like myself" and “I know a man with breast cancer and he is struggling with the effects of chemotherapy”  — were among the poignant messages delivered during the October meeting of Clare County Council.

The discussion took place as members marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Fine Gael councillor Mary Howard proposed a motion calling on Clare County Council to request that the HSE and NSAC (National Screening Advisory Committee) extend the BreastCheck service to women aged 40-74 as per the European Guidelines on Breast Cancer Screening. 

"Also, we request the HSE to roll out an educational programme advising women and men on effective  self-check procedures,” read the motion.

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Speaking about her motion, she said: "Currently Ireland's BreastCheck program invites women from 50 to 69 for free mammograms, there is evidence in European best practice that suggests extended screening in women between 44 to 79 will significantly improve early diagnosis and survival rates. By including women in their 40's, we can catch cancer early that might otherwise go undetected for years."

She told those in the chamber how many European countries already allow for broader access for breast screening, and extending BreastCheck in Ireland would "ensure that no woman is denied a potentially life saving screening" due to their age.

Fianna Fáil councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua seconded the motion stating that: "The programs to check, do detect very early stage cancer, and it [breast cancer] is one of the most treatable forms of cancer when caught early."

She spoke of a woman she knows who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage, after it had already spread to her lungs, detailing how the woman "successfully lived with cancer" for a number of years before she unfortunately passed away from the disease. 

Cllr Baker-Bashua gave the poignant message that "if the screening was there for her at a younger age, she could have been one of the lucky ones like myself" emphasising the importance of early detection.

Councillor Joe Killeen and Cllr James Ryan both voiced their support for the motion sharing shared experiences of knowing men in their lives who were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Cllr Killeen expressed the importance of the motion: "As it affects both male and females, I support that both can benefit from the self check procedures."

Cllr Ryan told the meeting that Ireland's procedures should be in compliance with European standards and that "an education program is very important."

He explained: "I know a man who got breast cancer, and I mean it was news to me a few years ago [that men can get it] but he was able to spot it quickly, got help for treatment and a good result was achieved."

Cllr Baker-Bashua also supported an education programme stating: "it's not just a female issue."

Acknowledging the support of her colleagues, Cllr Mary Howard said the measures proposed would help "reduce breast cancer mortality for generations to come."

The educational programme would "advise both men and women on how to do regular self checks. How you need to do it, what you're looking for and advice on the next steps if you find something."

Cllr Howard emphasised that “this is not a women’s issue,” as “men can get breast cancer too,” adding that “people don’t realise the breast tissue is the same.”