Plans for less frequent breast screening criticised

Calls have been made for the Isle of Man government's health department to review its policy on breast cancer screening following the publication of plans to offer screenings every three years.

Manx Care has set out its aims for the next financial year in line with a mandate from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The department has directed the operator to align its screening policy with the UK, where breast screenings are offered every three years - whereas in the Isle of Man they are currently available every two years.

Cancer survivor Karen Wagstaff said if she had had to wait another year to be diagnosed she "might not be sitting here today telling this story".

The mandate, to be debated in Tynwald later this month, directs Manx Care to implement recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee, which includes "decreasing the frequency of routine screening for breast and cervical cancer".

Ms Wagstaff is one of the founding members of the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, which has set up a petition to prevent the change moving forward.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago, and said she "managed to get through the 10-year mark" before discovering the disease had returned after attending her biannual screening.

She said: "I was diagnosed and it was picked up at a screening at a very early stage.

"Had I had to wait another year I might not be sat here today, that's the harsh reality."

She called any potential move to three-yearly screening "shocking" and pleaded with health bosses to "see some sense here".

However, the health minister said there were no plans to change the system over the next 12 months.

Claire Christian said there were "no supported recommended changes to the screening for any cancer services".

However, when asked to commit to keeping the screening frequency at its current level, Ms Christian told the House of Keys it was "difficult to give assurances".

Recommendations on cancer screenings are among a raft of changes laid out by the DHSC, as part of various money-saving measures.

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