The Department of Health and Social Security is currently promoting the ongoing work of the Isle of Man Breast Screening call and recall service, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Isle of Man Breast Screening call and recall service is now halfway through its second successful year of operation.
Since February 2008, women between the ages of 50 and 70 have been invited for screening. Out of those, a small number have been asked to attend the Breast Screening Assessment Clinic at Nobles Hospital for further investigations, and some cancers have been diagnosed as a result of screening.
Of the Island’s GP Practices, three quarters have had their eligible patients invited for screening during the last eighteen months, and the service is on target to complete the screening programme for the remaining Practices over the course of the next year.
By February 2010, over 10,500 ladies will have been offered an appointment with the service.
The second round of screening will then be started, when ladies will be recalled for their next appointment. This is a shorter interval than in the UK, where women are called for screening every three years.
Superintendent Radiographer in the Breast Screening Unit, Hilary Miller said, "We are delighted that we are well on our way to completing our first round of screening and will continue to develop the service further in the future.
"We would like to encourage all ladies to attend their screening appointment at the Clinic on Westmoreland Road, Douglas.
"If the appointment is not suitable then the administration staff, who can be contacted on 685339, will be happy to re-arrange the appointment to a more convenient time."
