Labour urges mandatory breast density reporting
Labour urges mandatory breast density reporting - The Labour Party
Labour’s Senator Nessa Cosgrove has called for action on breast density reporting following a briefing hosted in Leinster House today. The event highlighted how dense breast tissue can obscure or conceal cancer on a mammogram. The briefing was addressed by Siobhan Freeney, breast cancer survivor and patient advocate, Martha Lovett-Cullen, whose mother Marian died of breast cancer in 2024, and Professor Liam Gallagher of University College Dublin.
Senator Cosgrove said:
“It was an honour to host this briefing in Leinster House today. Since I first raised this issue in the Seanad, I’ve been contacted by countless women who told me it was the first time they’d heard of breast density. Like me, they had assumed that a clear mammogram result meant an absence of cancer. But that is not always the case. The reality is that cancer simply might not be visible in dense breast tissue.
“We heard that breast density refers to the proportion of fibrous and glandular tissue in the breast compared to fatty tissue. We know around 5% of women have very high breast density. These women may be likely to develop breast cancer, but also more likely to have cancers missed during routine screening.
“Our briefing today gave voice to women affected by this issue. We heard from Siobhan Freeney, founder of Lobular Ireland, who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, and from Martha Lovett-Cullen, whose mother’s cancer was missed despite clear mammograms. Their stories are powerful reminders that the current system is not serving everyone.
“Professor Liam Gallagher was very clear that Ireland has a good screening programme in BreastCheck, but said evidence-based changes could make a real difference.
“This issue needs to be addressed quickly and we strongly welcome the upcoming HIQA review. In addition, I’m calling on the Minister for Health to:
- Ensure all women are clearly informed about their breast density after a mammogram.
- Provide clear guidance on what breast density means and the potential for further screening such as MRI or ultrasound.
- Make this information available to GPs so they can properly advise their patients.”