Call for funding to enable the resumption of cancer screening

The Irish Cancer Society has requested immediate funding to enable the resumption of a vital screening service for women at risk of breast cancer of genetic origin, after it became apparent that the service had been hanging since the spring.

St. James Hospital confirmed yesterday that its family risk management service was "temporarily suspended" since April, "because of access to diagnostic mammography services."

The Irish Cancer Society said the suspension was "a worrying development for the women concerned who are at increased risk of breast cancer due to high-risk predisposing genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2".

Genes greatly increase the risk of breast cancer when harmful mutations are present.

A woman with a family history of cancer told RTÉ Radio's Liveline program that she had no symptoms of breast cancer, but the screening service detected her "and saved my life".

The service does not currently offer appointments to new patients and all referrals for family risk have been postponed.

St James's advises patients with breast symptoms to contact their GP for referral to the nearest symptomatic breast clinic. The department is currently reviewing records and imaging and urgent patients are still being seen.

The hospital said in a statement it discussed the service with the HSE and the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) and announced that funding had recently been received to replace a mammography machine and purchase one. third, which will be operational. in the first quarter of 2019 ".

The hospital said it would help reduce delays for patients waiting for a mammogram.

According to the statement, the hospital is working to restore service "as quickly as possible while maintaining timely access to symptomatic breast treatment services."

The Irish Cancer Society wrote to the NCCP yesterday asking for clarification on why there was no capacity to evaluate women and what solutions were put in place.

He wrote: "Priority funding must be made available for family history care to resume as soon as possible and to ensure that arrears or delays are handled safely, expeditiously and effectively".

The company noted that the National Cancer Strategy commits the NCCP to continue developing a hereditary cancer control program and that services are accessible to patients as needed.

"The Irish Cancer Society believes that this is an important part of the national strategy and needs to be fully supported and fully supported," he said.