BreastCheck is for women aged 50 to 69.
Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage when it can be easier to treat. At screening, we take an x-ray of your breasts (a mammogram) to look for signs of breast cancer.
- BreastCheck is for women who have no symptoms of breast cancer.
- People with symptoms, or who have had a previous breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, are cared for by symptomatic services.
- BreastCheck is free, including any follow-up tests you might need.
You will have your screening at one of our 4 static units in Dublin, Cork or Galway, or in one of our 24 mobile units. The best time to attend your screening is when a mobile unit is in your area. Our mobile units travel to 54 locations around the country so you can have your screening close to home. Each unit stays in an area until all women due screening there have been invited. Then it moves on to the next location and returns when women in that area are due their screening again.
We want your breast screening experience with us to be clear, supportive and reassuring from start to finish.
Welcome to BreastCheck
We write to you to welcome you to BreastCheck and to let you know that we are screening in your area. The letter explains what breast screening is and includes a booklet with information to help you decide if you want to take part.
We let you know that we will soon be sending you an appointment for your mammogram. We aim to send you your first appointment by age 52 and every 2 years after that, up to the age of 69.
We ask you to let us know if you do not want to take part.
Here’s what you can expect when you choose to take part in BreastCheck.
Your first appointment
We send you a letter with your appointment for breast screening. You will also get a notification about your appointment through the HSE Health App, if you use it.
We aim to invite you to a BreastCheck unit close to where you live. Most women have their breast screening in one of our mobile units.
The appointment letter will tell you:
- your appointment date, time and location
- how to get ready for your appointment
- how to contact us if you need extra help or support at your appointment.
We will remind you about your appointment by text, if we have your phone number.
We ask you to let us know if you cannot attend your appointment. This is important to us so we can offer the appointment to someone else, helping us to screen more women.
If you do not attend your appointment, we will write to you 2 more times. If you do not attend, we will invite you again in 2 years.
If you miss your appointment
If you miss your appointment or cannot attend it while the mobile unit is in your area, let us know and we can arrange another appointment for you at the nearest screening unit.
Coming for your mammogram
Your appointment will take about 30 minutes. We’ll ask you to sign a consent form to take part in screening. Then you will have your mammogram. A radiographer will take the x-rays. This will only take a few minutes. This video explains what happens during your mammogram.
Supporting every woman
We know that every woman’s situation is different. That’s why we offer:
- longer or group appointments if you need extra time or support
- accessible units that can accommodate most wheelchairs
- accessible information in plain language and easy-read formats, with photo stories and video stories showing what happens at screening
- videos in 25 languages
- a video with Irish Sign Language
- a dedicated Access Officer to help you if you have a disability and have access needs. Email: access@breastcheck.ie
We’re here to help - before, during and after your appointment.
Your screening results
We aim to send you the results of your mammogram within 3 weeks. We will send your results by post. We will also send a copy of your results to your GP.
Two consultant radiologists (breast x-ray specialists) will look at your mammogram. They will check for any signs of cancer. Most women get a normal result.
Normal result
This means we did not find any signs of breast cancer. We will invite you for screening again in about 2 years. This can depend on when our mobile unit is back in your area.
Follow-up assessment
This means that we need to take more images and you may need to have more tests. Around 1 in 25 women are invited back to an assessment clinic. This will take place at one of our BreastCheck units in Dublin, Cork or Galway.
We aim to invite you for a follow-up assessment within 2 weeks of your screening result. The appointment will take about 3 hours.
At the assessment clinic you might have:
- another mammogram
- an ultrasound
- a breast examination
- a biopsy.
If you have a biopsy, our nurse or surgeon will arrange a follow-up appointment for you. This is usually a week later.
If you do not attend for your follow-up assessment or repeat mammogram we will:
- write to you 2 more times
- call you if we have your phone number
- call your GP if we have their details.
Your assessment results
We aim to send you the results within 2 weeks of your assessment.
If you have a biopsy, our BreastCheck team will meet to:
- look at your results
- make a plan on the next steps for you
- involve you in making decisions about your care.
Our team includes radiographers, consultant radiologists, breast care nurses, oncologists, surgeons and pathologists.
Normal result (after assessment)
Most women get a normal result after assessment. This means we did not find any signs of breast cancer. We will invite you for screening again in 2 years.
Early recall
If the result is not clear, we will ask you to come for another assessment in 6 or 12 months.
Diagnosis
If cancer is found, we will call you to invite you back to the BreastCheck clinic to meet our breast care team. Our breast care nurse and consultant surgeon will discuss your treatment options with you.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, our BreastCheck team will care for you in one of our specialist cancer hospitals in Galway, Cork or Dublin. We will arrange your breast cancer treatment through BreastCheck. We aim to organise this within 3 weeks of your breast cancer diagnosis.
BreastCheck will no longer invite you for breast screening. Instead, symptomatic services will arrange a yearly mammogram for you as part of your ongoing care, when you are discharged from treatment.
Looking after your breast health
You should continue to check your breasts regularly between screening appointments. Get to know how your breasts normally look and feel and go to your GP if you notice any changes. A small number of women who have regular screening will still develop breast cancer and not all cancers can be found through screening. You should not wait for your next screening appointment if you have any concerns or symptoms of breast cancer.
Our charter
We’ve worked with women to create the BreastCheck Charter. It tells you what you can expect from us and how you can help us deliver the best service.
Breast screening is a choice
We support you to make the decision that’s right for you, with clear information, available in different formats. Coming for screening every time you’re invited helps us build up a picture of your breast health over time. This can help us to find any changes in your breasts.
Every year, BreastCheck detects around one-third of all breast cancers in Ireland. By finding cancers earlier, when treatment can be more effective, screening helps save lives.
If you’re aged 50 to 69, make sure you are on the BreastCheck register and that we have your up-to-date contact details.
You can do this:
- online
- by Freephone: 1800 45 45 55
- by email: info@breastcheck.ie
Get more information at hse.ie/breastcheck