When you get your first breast screening invitation from us to attend BreastCheck, it’s more than just one appointment.
It’s the beginning of a journey of care for you to:
- look after yourself and your breast health
- find any changes in your breasts early
- get treatment if you need it when it’s more likely to be successful.
BreastCheck is free and if you need any follow-up tests or treatment, this is also free.
Why your first breast screening is important
Most women who come for their first screening will keep coming back every time they are invited.
We know from research that women who don’t come for their first breast screening are:
- less likely to attend in the future
- more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage later in life.
Take that first step with us
BreastCheck is for women aged 50 to 69 who do not have symptoms of breast cancer.
We’ll invite you for breast screening about every 2 years up to the age of 69. We aim to send you your first appointment by the age of 52.
The timing of your first appointment can depend on when our mobile unit is screening in your area. So, you might be 53 when you get that first appointment. Some women may be older, such as women who have recently moved to Ireland.
When it comes, your first breast screening appointment matters.
- If you’ve been invited, come along to your appointment or call us to rearrange it if you can’t make it.
- Coming for screening is your choice. We’re here to help if you have any questions or concerns about your appointment. Call us on Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
- If you’re aged 50 to 69 and you haven’t received your appointment or have recently moved to Ireland, check that you’re on our register and that we have your up-to-date contact details. Visit hse.ie/breastcheck or call us on Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
Making it easier for you
Here’s how we’re working to support you to come for screening.
- We help you keep track of your appointment: As well as sending you a letter, your appointment details can be sent to your HSE Health App, if you use it. We’ll also send you a text to remind you about your appointment, if we have your phone number.
- We bring screening close to you: The best time to attend your screening is when a mobile unit is in your area. We have screening units in Dublin, Cork and Galway, and 24 mobile units that travel to 54 locations across Ireland.
- We can rearrange your appointment: If you can’t make it to your appointment, let us know by calling the phone number on your appointment letter. We can give you a new appointment and arrange it at your nearest screening unit.
- We support access and inclusivity: We can give you a longer appointment and extra support if you need it. We have videos in different languages, and materials in accessible formats such as easy-to-read leaflets. We can provide a sign language interpreter, a language interpreter, and information in Braille.
- We’re providing more screening: We’re adding more appointments and recruiting staff so that we can screen more women, sooner, and inviting those who are waiting longer.
What women tell us
Most women who come for breast screening say it’s a positive experience. The appointment is easy to get to, and having a mammogram is quick and mostly comfortable.
In our 2024 patient experience survey of over 10,000 women:
- 3 out of 4 women said they felt only mild discomfort or none at all
- 95% of women agreed their appointment was easy to get to
- over 99% told us they would come back for screening again.
You can support more women to come for screening by letting us know if screening is not for you. We ask you to let us know if you do not want to take part in screening. We can give your appointment to someone else.
BreastCheck is not for women who:
- have or have had breast cancer
- have had a mammogram with another health service in the past year
- have symptoms of breast cancer.
Looking after your breast health
Taking care of your breasts is something you can do throughout your life, and not just when you start your journey with BreastCheck after the age of 50.
Before, during, and after your screening years, you should:
- get to know what’s normal for your breasts and become more breast aware
- learn how to check your breasts
- get to know the symptoms of breast cancer
- talk to your GP straight away if you notice anything unusual. Do not wait for your screening appointment.
After your first breast screening
Taking care of your breast health doesn’t stop after your first screening. Between your mammograms, stay breast aware. And come to BreastCheck every time you’re invited.
Choose screening – it’s your best chance to find any changes to your breasts early and to get the care you need, if you need it. While most women get a normal result, screening can save lives.
- First mammography screening participation and breast cancer incidence and mortality in the subsequent 25 years: population-based cohort study is published in the British Medical Journal. In this Swedish cohort study, nearly one in three women (32%) invited to their first screening did not attend. Those who missed their first invite were consistently less likely to attend future screens and were more likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced cancer stage. Over 25 years, mortality among non-participants was 9.9 per 1,000 women - vs 7 per 1,000 among participants - pointing to a roughly 40% higher risk of death. Importantly, the total cancer incidence was nearly the same (7.6 % vs 7.8 %), suggesting that the difference lies in when cancers are detected, not whether they occur.
- In 2021, Dympna Cremin was diagnosed with breast cancer after a screening mammogram with BreastCheck. After having successful surgery and radiotherapy, Dympna shared her story to encourage other women to go for screening every time they’re invited.
- Watch Dympna’s video.
- Breast Cancer Awareness month takes place from 1 to 31 October annually.