Development of Services For Symptomatic Breast Disease

Although, in recent years, advances in diagnosis and treatment have been made, breast cancer remains a major public health issue in Ireland and is responsible for approximately 650 deaths annually. It is now recognised that patients with breast diseases are best served by a team of specialists working together. Strong evidence exists that women with breast cancer are at lower risk of relapse and have a better opportunity of long-term survival if they are treated in a multidisciplinary setting. Thus, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiotherapists, plastic surgeons, nurses, counsellors and others all bring expertise together to provide the best care for each patient. Such an arrangement can be achieved only by establishing Specialist Breast Units, strategically placed throughout the country, each treating sufficiently large numbers of patients in order to maintain expertise and to promote best practice. These Units should also be responsive to developments in treatment and should be involved in clinical research and clinical trials in collaboration with each other and with international groups. Systems of training of breast specialists and guidelines of good care are being laid down by training organisations in Ireland and throughout Europe. The undoubted high quality of the recently initiated National Breast Screening Programme (Breast Check) for women aged 50-64 years who have no breast symptoms, should be matched by a programme also of th