Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Minister of State, my other colleagues and the staff in Leinster House who are going pink for breast cancer awareness month. First, I must say that today is an emotional day, because this issue means a lot to me. I am thinking of everyone who is currently going through treatment for breast cancer or is in recovery. I also wish to say how sorry I am for those families who are grieving the loss of a loved one.It is a terrible loss and one which is never understood. This mark of solidarity, wearing pink, is meant to say that we remember these people's loved ones and that we want to raise awareness of this disease so that perhaps someone will be encouraged to get checked and, rather than having to remember loved ones, we will have them with us. We just might save a life. I thank Councillor Teresa Costello, with whom I am working on this. She is a breast cancer survivor and has an incredible wealth of knowledge and a clear determination to raise awareness of breast health.

As the Cathaoirleach has said, my Commencement matter today is to ask the Minister for Health for an update on BreastCheck and to support an increased awareness campaign to support breast health. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumour in Irish women. There were 2,883 such diagnoses in 2014 and this increased to 3,700 diagnoses in 2021. This represents one third of all the major malignancies diagnosed in women. Although survival rates for breast cancer are currently very high, with 82% of those diagnosed surviving for more than five years, it is still the second most common cause of death in women, after lung cancer. On average, 724 deaths per year were attributed to breast cancer in the period from 2015 to 2017. This number has significantly declined, by about 2% per year, since 1994.

It is devastating that we lose 724 people to breast cancer every year but it is also estimated that 60% of those diagnosed with breast cancer every year are outside the national screening programme, BreastCheck. I am an advocate for increased screening but this is a decision for the national screening advisory committee. As part of my campaign, I will be submitting a proposal recommending that the Department of Health lower the age at which screening begins to 40. The Department can act now to empower women and men to check themselves and to be breast aware. We know that early detection saves lives. A full population-wide awareness programme will change outcomes. I ask that the Department fund an increased awareness campaign including national advertisements on television and social media reminding people to check for changes in their breasts. It is also very important to show people how to check for changes in their breasts. I also ask that each hospital group take a supportive and proactive role in this campaign and that the Department and the HSE work with GPs to facilitate increased education to support the referral of patients to specialist breast clinics. Being breast aware, knowing the changes that could signify cancer in men and women, teaching people to check themselves and empowering people will save lives. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.