Mayor's Charity
The Mayor, Alderman Amanda Grehan has announced her Mayoral Charity as Action Cancer.
Mayor Grehan commented: "Cancer can affect anyone, and I have seen the impact it can have on families. During my Mayoral term I will be working with Action Cancer to raise money specifically for breast cancer screening in local communities. I also want to raise awareness so that for more people, early diagnosis is possible. There will be many events and initiatives throughout the year that everyone can get involved in.”
The Mayor would welcome as much support as possible from the community to help fundraise and raise awareness. Whether that’s by volunteering, organising an event or donating to the Mayor’s Charity.
Please feel free to contact the Mayor’s secretary on 028 9244 7331 or email mayors.secretary@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Key messages on breast cancer and support available from Action Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among females in Northern Ireland accounting for 30% of all cancer diagnoses among women. The latest statistics state that 1,490 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 312 die from the disease every year.
It is internationally recommended that all women over 40 undertake breast screening as it aims to find cancers early through the use of a mammogram to find very small cancers before they have caused any symptoms or can be felt. The NHS invites woman aged 50 to 70 years of age for breast screening every three years.
Breast screening
Action Cancer's breast screening service is for NON-SYMPTOMATIC Women in Northern Ireland who are 40 to 49 years of age & 70+. It is the only charity in the UK and Ireland to offer breast screening to women who fall outside the NHS age range. All their clients self-refer out of a desire to participate in mammography screening.
In 2018, it launched the first 3D breast screening service in the UK, which involved them adding to the traditional 2D mammogram an additional tool called Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT).
Why have a screening?
Evidence shows that breast screening has contributed to this reduction. Breast screening will not prevent breast cancer from developing, but it can help find a breast cancer sooner, which means a better outlook is more likely. Cancers detected early are much more treatable.
There are five steps to breast screening:
- Step 1 - The radiographer will call you into the x-ray room at your appointment time and will go through some breast related questions with you before fully explaining the mammogram procedure and answering any questions you may have.
- Step 2 - Those aged 40 to 49 will receive a 3D mammogram and those aged 70+ will receive a 2D mammogram. A mammogram involves an x-ray of the breasts, either type of mammogram involves being positioned for 4 different x-rays. Two of each breast, one covering the front of the breast and the other covering the tissue at the back of the breast and under the arm.
- Step 3 - The mammogram involves compressing the breast each time to get a good image. If the breast is not compressed the image would be of very poor quality or blurred and we might not get good detail on the mammogram. Most women would describe the procedure as uncomfortable, rather than painful, although a few women may find it painful.
- Step 4 - The compression during the procedure lasts for approximately 10 to15 seconds for each picture for 2D mammogram each picture and 40 seconds for a 3D mammogram and automatically releases once the X-Ray is taken, if you do find the compression too uncomfortable, you can inform the radiographer who may try position you differently.
- Step 5 - For those having a 3D mammogram, you will notice very little difference between your previous mammogram and the 3D one in fact it may seem a little more comfortable as we will not need to use as much compression to hold the breast still. The main difference is that the machine will move during the mammogram for a few seconds each image. It will not come in contact with you in any way and you will be positioned in exactly the same way as in previous mammograms.
Action Cancer will provide results within three weeks and if they see an abnormality on the x-ray they would then refer into the NHS for further investigation. Around 4% of clients screened are referred for further investigation.
This does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong: 4 out of 5 clients recalled are given a normal result after further tests.
Additional services provided by Action Cancer
In addition to breast screening detection services Action Cancer offers an extensive range of Therapeutic Support Services, Skin Cancer Detection Services and Health Improvement Services. For more info visit actioncancer.org