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Donegal women to get mammograms 05.07.07
DONEGAL women on a
waiting list for breast cancer screening are to be
referred to the North for mammograms.
Co-operating for Cancer Care (NW) has revealed that
the HSE began reducing a 300-strong waiting list last
month by referring patients to Action Cancer.
And Action Cancer has been awarded a HSE grant
towards funding the cross-border service.
Details of the arrangement were outlined at a
meeting chaired by CCC(NW) in Belfast on Monday.
Culdaff-based Noelle Duddy of CCC(NW) said: “We in
Donegal are indebted to Action Cancer. This cancer
organisation opens its doors to all women and it is
responsible for saving the lives of many Donegal
women.
"Our families cannot thank Action Cancer enough. HSE
West by awarding this grant to Action Cancer has
demonstrated that it is actively listening to and
engaging with the concerns of women in Donegal. The
grant, together with the donations that women
themselves make, enables Action Cancer to provide
these potentially life-saving services to the women
of Donegal."
The purpose of the meeting was to consider the
possibilities for cancer prevention, early detection
and support if a cross-border partnership was
available.
Senior representatives from both statutory and
voluntary bodies including Action Cancer;
BreastCheck; HSE/CAWT; Irish Cancer Society and The
Marie Keating Foundation were in attendance. |
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Action Cancer
facilitated the meeting with a ‘tour’ of The Big
Bus, a 40-metre, £1m state-of-the-art, multi-purpose
mobile facility containing men’s health checks,
digital mammography, complementary therapy, |
Listening Ear Service
and health promotion.
Ms. Duddy said the group were "delighted" women in
Donegal were now receiving appointments with Action
Cancer to attend for a mammogram. "This waiting list
will soon be made to disappear for good," she said.
The local campaigners are also lobbying for the
speedy ‘roll-out’ of Phase 2 of BreastCheck, the
National Breast Screening Programme.
Another meeting was scheduled for September to give
each organisation time to discuss the issues raised,
with their own respective boards of management.
Meanwhile, it was announced this week that a
permanent breast surgeon had been appointed to
Letterkenny General Hospital. |
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