Former Miss Ireland Aoife O’Sullivan Relaunches Breast Cancer Ireland’s Breast Health and Education Awareness Programme

One in nine women will be diagnosed in their lifetime and former Miss Ireland Aoife O’Sullivan is helping Breast Cancer Ireland relaunch its Breast Health and Education Awareness Programme, in an online capacity, in partnership with insurance firm, Cornmarket Group Financial Services and the INTO.

The initiative sees the charity’s outreach coordinators presenting to schools and businesses throughout Ireland, with the aim of promoting the importance of good breast health education to primary school teachers; transition year (TY) students, support staff, companies and community groups nationwide.

Teacher Ms. O Sullivan, marked the reopening of the service at Laurel Hill secondary school in Limerick recently with BCI co-ordinator Juliette O’Connell as well as TY students Aoife Dillon and Siobhan Downes and career guidance teacher Ethna Lyons.

BCI co-ordinator Juliette, along with the other outreach coordinators involved in this programme, is a breast cancer survivor.  She shares their personal story to educate women on how to perform a self-breast examination and highlight the signs and symptoms to recognize. In 2013, Juliette was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER 2 Positive breast cancer. Following six months of chemotherapy,  a mastectomy and 35 weeks of radiotherapy, Juliette is now in good health and eight years cancer free.

Breast Cancer Ireland is calling on Irish women to continue to remain vigilant, during the current lockdown, on their breast health and to learn the signs and symptoms so that if an abnormality arises they can contact their GP who will refer them on.

Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland comments:

“We are delighted to reactivate this fantastic programme that is helping to drive awareness of breast cancer and encouraging women and men to self-check regularly to identify what is normal for them, so that if an abnormality does occur, it will be identified early and hopefully provide a more positive outcome.”

The charity also welcomes the resumption of BreastCheck, the national screening service for breast cancer and the relief it will bring to women over 50 years of age who were without the free invitation for a mammogram, a breast X-ray, for many months.

Aisling adds: “While we are delighted to see this service resume, we urge women to remain vigilant, take ownership and be proactive about their own breast health. Knowledge is key and if women notice an abnormality it is important, particularly in these challenging times,  to immediately contact their GP.”

 Schools and organisations can get involved by registering their interest at   https://www.breastcancerireland.com/education-awareness/

STELLAR PROMOTION 

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Breast Cancer Ireland