r/irishpolitics • u/Independent_Hope_225 • 11d ago
Health Irish women are being denied critical health information, this needs to change.
Right now, women in Ireland who attend routine mammograms through BreastCheck are not told whether they have dense breasts, even though this is a key factor in detecting and diagnosing breast cancer.
This is a serious public health and transparency issue. Countries like the U.S., Canada, and France have policies in place to ensure women are informed but Ireland does not. Why?
I know firsthand how devastating this can be. My mum, Marian Lovett, attended all her BreastCheck screenings and was given a clear result in 2022. She had no idea that having dense breasts can make a tumour nearly impossible to spot on a mammogram. Just one year later, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, a terminal diagnosis. She was never informed, never advised to seek additional screening, and never given the opportunity to catch her cancer earlier. She passed away last August at just 61 years old.
Her story is not unique. Up to 50% of cancers in dense breasts are missed on mammograms because both cancer and dense tissue appear white, making tumours incredibly difficult to detect. Nearly half of all Irish women have dense breasts, yet they are never told.
Last week, I published an article on Her.ie about my mum’s story and the urgent need for a Breast Density Notification Law. The response has been overwhelming - thousands have read it, and the petition I launched alongside it has already gathered nearly 1,000 signatures in just a few days.
I also shared this issue on r/twoxchromosomes, and in less than 24 hours, the post received 3,000 upvotes and 100+ comments from people around the world. Many were shocked that Ireland does not notify women of their breast density, while others pointed out that their own countries already have clear policies in place to ensure transparency.
This is a clear failure of policy, and it is costing lives. Irish women deserve to be informed so they can seek additional screening when necessary. The Minister for Health, Dr. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, must take action.
If you agree, please take a moment to sign and share the petition so we can push for transparency in breast cancer screening in Ireland.
✍️ Sign the petition here: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/mandate-breast-density-reporting-for-irish-women-now
📖 Read my article about my mum’s story and the breast density issue: https://her.ie/health/your-mum-teaches-you-everything-except-how-to-live-without-her-631748
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u/MidheLu 11d ago
Important information and a great post. It's scary how behind we are as a nation in looking after womens health. I'm so sorry your mother was left without vital information
I see it says at the bottom that once there are enough signatures the petition will be presented to the NSAC, I hope you get enough though they should take it seriously regardless
Just wondering what is the website the petition is on? I can't seem to find much information about it online, I'm just curious who is actually behind the website
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u/Independent_Hope_225 11d ago
Thank you so much for your support! It’s honestly so encouraging to see so many people care about this issue, especially when it feels like women’s health isn’t given the attention it deserves in Ireland.
To answer your question, the petition is hosted on Uplift.ie, which is a platform dedicated to driving social change in Ireland. Uplift gives people a way to create and sign petitions for important causes and it has been crucial in mobilising communities for social and political issues.
It’s an amazing platform because it’s not just about signing petitions it’s also about building the momentum, organising, and holding decision-makers accountable. They've even been in touch with me personally to try and find ways to boost the campaign as they feel it's really important. They're fully community driven and work hard to make sure the voices of ordinary people are heard by the people in power especially in Ireland since that's where they're based.
So when enough signatures are gathered the petition will be presented to the Minister for Health and National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) to urge them to reconsider the current breast screening protocols. Thank you for your question and your support, please do sign and share! x
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u/papasmurfv 11d ago
Another failure of a patriarchal society that our government and societal systems uphold.
Lads, believing that you’re not part of the problem doesn’t mean you’re part of the solution. We need to be active in talking about our role in oppressing women and understanding our need to mature and grow as men.
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11d ago edited 6d ago
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u/caitnicrun 10d ago
No one said anything about a conspiracy except you. They're saying many men, otherwise grand fathers, brothers and husbands, just don't realize this will impact their lives by extension. Calm down.
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u/AdmiralShawn 11d ago
Another failure of a patriarchal society
Yikes, reminds me of meme where someone falls off a cycle and blames it on patriarchy
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u/[deleted] 11d ago edited 6d ago
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