Breast Cancer screening resumed on Tuesday, following months of inaction due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the resumption of screening is very welcome, the backlog caused by the shutdown during the pandemic is leading to alarm amongst breast cancer charities and survivors. The HSE, who run Breast Check, have confirmed that it could take up to three years to see all 153,000 women currently waiting for a mammogram due to the delays caused by the virus. Tens of thousands of appointments had been cancelled and screening has now only resumed at a reduced capacity in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
Concerns have been raised about the potential to miss diagnoses due to the backlog and in relation to the decision to extend the invitation period for a mammogram from once every two years, to once every three years.
Anne Murphy is an Oncology nurse and works with Sláinte An Chláir to support cancer patients in this county and will shine a light on the issues the Breast Check service is facing.
Liz Constantinescu got in touch with the show to speak about her breast cancer diagnosis. She says she would not have lasted three years if she was facing the wait that some women are now for a mammogram. She is calling for the age of invitation for a mammogram to be lowered and is highly worried about the extension of the invitation period to once every three years.