Taoiseach says working group devising breast cancer strategy and structure

MICHAEL O’REGAN and MARIE O’HALLORAN

A working group was putting in place a strategy and structure for indentifying at-risk categories in the treatment of breast cancer, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dail.

Mr Kenny said that if a GP had concern about somebody in the surgery they would not ask them to wait. “Obviously that case has to be given priority and a screening,’’ he added.

The Taoiseach was replying to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin who referred to actress Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy which was carried out to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Ms Jolie’s mother died of breast cancer at the age of 56. The actress tested positive for the “faulty gene” BRCA1 which increased her chances of gettting breast cancer to 87 per cent.

Mr Martin said it was not acceptable that a DNA test would cost €1,400 or wait 18 months. About 4,200 women were known to have familial risks but only one in every 15 had a genetic mutation.

He said the Government and Minister for Health Dr James Reilly should concentrate and focus on that issue.

Mr Martin said the establishment of a working group did not mean a whole lot. “It can mean something, but it would have to be followed up by a clear commitment to adequately resource the provision of such a programme and service,’’ he added.