BREASTCHECK TO BRING SECOND MOBILE SCREENING UNIT TO DONEGAL
7 October 2010 - The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) today announced its intention to locate an additional mobile screening unit in County Donegal. The second mobile unit will supplement the current breast screening service offered by BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme to women in the greater Donegal town area. The second mobile screening unit will be located in Buncrana and will commence screening women at the end of November. It is expected that the mobile will remain in Buncrana until March 2011.
Women living in Buncrana and surrounding areas including, Carndonagh, Straid, Ardmalin and Greencastle will be offered their free BreastCheck mammograms at the Buncrana based mobile unit. In advance of screening commencing, eligible women aged 50 to 64 will be contacted by the BreastCheck Western Unit with general breast screening information. Appointment details will then automatically follow by post.
BreastCheck has almost completed screening of over 5,300 women living in Donegal Town and surrounding areas including Ardara, Fintown, Glencolumbkille, Glenties, Kilcar and Killybegs from a mobile unit located in Donegal Town. Having completed screening in these areas, BreastCheck will relocate the mobile unit to Letterkenny in late October. There are over 4,000 eligible women to be invited for a mammogram from Letterkenny and surrounding areas and screening will commence in early November and will continue in Letterkenny into 2011.
Commenting on the additional service, Tony O’Brien, Director of the National Cancer Screening Service said: “BreastCheck has been on location in Co Donegal since October 2009. There are in excess of 13,550 eligible women aged 50 to 64 living in the county. Due to the high numbers of eligible women to be screened it is necessary to introduce an additional mobile screening unit to ensure all women in the county are offered equal access to breast screening in a timely manner. I am delighted that BreastCheck can provide this additional service to women in north Donegal.”
BreastCheck is a Government-funded screening service that is offered to women aged between 50 and 64 every two years. A mammogram is a simple procedure and an appointment only takes about half an hour in total. BreastCheck encourages every woman in Donegal who receives an invitation for a mammogram to go for her appointment.
BreastCheck was introduced to Co Donegal in October 2009 and will remain in the county until all eligible women aged 50-64 have been offered a screening appointment.
BreastCheck compiles a register (list) of women eligible for screening from information supplied by the Department of Social Protection, General Medical Services and private health insurance providers. The register contains a woman’s name, address and date of birth. This information is used to invite a woman for her mammogram when BreastCheck is screening in her area.
BreastCheck advises all women aged 50 to 64 to make sure their name is on the BreastCheck register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or checking online at
Once on the register and known to the programme, a woman will automatically receive a letter and her invitation for a mammogram when BreastCheck is screening in her area.
If a woman is not on the BreastCheck register, there are two simple ways to have her details added. She can either register herself online in the ‘self search and register online’ section of or there are self registration forms available from BreastCheck that can be completed and returned by Freepost. These forms are available on request by calling the BreastCheck information line on Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
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For further information:
Sheila Caulfield/Clare Manning, Communications, National Cancer Screening Service
Tel: 01 865 9300