Mary Hanafin
Question:153 Ms Hanafin asked the Minister for Health and Children the location where breast cancer patients in Sligo and Letterkenny receive their chemotherapy and radiation treatments. [16909/99]
Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.
Patients with breast cancer receive a range of services locally, including surgery and chemotherapy as appropriate. Both Letterkenny and Sligo General Hospitals have breast care clinics with on-site clinical examination, mammography, cytology and histology.
At present radiotherapy services are available in St Luke's Hospital, Dublin. Plans for the development of University College Hospital, Galway include the provision of a radiotherapy unit, which will also offer treatments for patients living in the North-Western Health Board area.
The National Cancer Forum is at present examining the symptomatic breast cancer services currently available in light of the expected increase in demand on the services as a result of the national breast screening programme, which is due to commence in the autumn. This review, when complete, will form the basis of recommendations on the future development of breast cancer services on a national basis.