The 75 per cent uptake of breast cancer screening services in the areas of Leinster where it is offered is significantly above the international standard of 70 per cent, a report published today showed.
It also showed that in 2003 just 0.7 per cent of the 52,831 women who were screened for the disease were found to have breast cancer.
"We are achieving all the international proxy indicators, which indicate we are hitting our all our targets but we cannot say that definitively until the ten year data is available," said Mr Tony O'Brien, director of Breastcheck, at the launch of the organisation's annual report for 2003.
Breastcheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, now offers services in all the counties of Leinster, with the exception of Carlow and Kilkenny, where screening will commence next year when suitable radiographers have been recruited.
Breastcheck will need to be in operation for 10 years before data is available to confirm that it's stated aim of reducing mortality rates from breast cancer have been achieved.
The number of women invited for screening grew significantly from 49,408 in 2002 to 70,241 in 2003. Of those invited for their second screening, 91 per cent availed of the opportunity, which Mr O'Brien feels is a vindication of the professionalism of the service offered to women.
"The two figures combined [for first and second screening] suggests we are screening enough women to reduce fatality rates which is our main aim," said Mr O'Brien.
"The high uptake is due to a combination of factors including a very motivated population, a high awareness amongst women of the benefits of screening, and that they trust us as an organisation."
Of women diagnosed with cancer 85.6 per cent were offered hospital admission within three weeks, short of the target of 90 per cent. Mr O'Brien pointed out that 94.5 per cent of women were offered admission within four weeks.
"We simply need to shift a few cases by a few days," he said. "We will be working with the acute hospitals and will be talking to the new Health Service Executive to ensure we meet our target."
Only 60 per cent of women were re-invited for screening within 21-27 months, against a target of 90 per cent, which Mr O'Brien attributes to the problems associated with setting up the service - particularly recruiting specialist staff such as radiographers.
Breastcheck will be engaging in an international search for radiographers to support the national roll out of the service.
The Government approved €20 million funding for the expansion in 2004 and it will be completed by early 2007 subject to planning.
This involves the building of dedicated screening centres at University College Hospital, Galway and South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital, Cork.
Breastcheck also commissioned a research report into consumer awareness, understanding and experiences of BreastCheck which found that awareness of the programme is generally high (84 per cent) amongst its target audience of women aged 50-64.
In areas where the service is available awareness is even higher - 98 per cent in Leinster and 100 per cent in Dublin.
For women who did not attend screening the main reasons were ineligibility, having had a recent mammogram elsewhere (15 per cent), fear (5 per cent), inconvenience (2 per cent) and lack of confidence in the service (3 per cent).
Those who did attend were younger, better-educated, have an active social life and either have had experience of ill-health or are very healthy. While almost all the women had a family doctor their visits were usually infrequent with cost cited as the main barrier.