Costello welcomes new BreastCheck assessment but calls for urgent action on symptomatic breast clinic delays

Fianna Fáil Senator Teresa Costello has welcomed a new assessment into whether breast density should be included in the BreastCheck screening programme – but warned that delays at symptomatic breast clinics remains a serious issue.

 

The assessment by HIQA will consider whether women attending BreastCheck should be measured, informed of, and offered additional screening based on their breast density. Women with dense breasts face a higher risk of developing breast cancer and are more difficult to screen accurately using standard digital mammography alone.

 

Costello, a breast cancer survivor herself, described the development as a significant step forward.

 

“Today’s announcement from HIQA is positive in improving breast cancer outcomes for women in Ireland,” she said.

 

The Dublin Senator also welcomed a separate assessment that will evaluate the extension of BreastCheck to women aged 45 to 49 and 70 to 74.

 

Senator Costello along with Deputies Erin McGreehan and John Lahart made a submission to the National Screening Advisory Committee in 2021 calling for the BreastCheck age to be lowered to 40.

 

Nearly 25% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland are under the age of 50.

 

Costello warned that improvements to the BreastCheck programme must not overshadow the problems facing women who present to symptomatic breast clinics, particularly younger women who fall outside the screening age.

 

Senator Costello was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 36. Costello reflected on her diagnosis on a recent episode of Fianna Fáil’s podcast ‘In Our Own Words’ to mark World Cancer Day.

 

“I believe the reason I’m still here today is because the day I went to the symptomatic breast clinic, I was given a triple assessment. I wasn’t sent out of that clinic and told we’re going to make an appointment for you, and I wasn’t left waiting six months.

 

“One frustration that I have is that there isn’t automatically a triple assessment. I’ve asked the question, and I’ll continue to ask the question of when this changed,” she said.

 

Senator Costello’s concerns were echoed by Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland, who highlighted the devastating consequences that delays in diagnosis can have for patients.

 

“We know people who have had their physical exam, they’ve had their mammogram, they’ve been told to wait for their ultrasound, and they got a seven month wait, only then to be diagnosed with stage 4, terminal, incurable cancer,” she said.