Breast screening information

Breast screening helps find cancer at an early stage when you are well and have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer.

If breast cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat and there’s a better chance of recovery.

Who is eligible for breast screening

BreastCheck is the name of the national breast screening programme.

We offer free breast screening to women, transgender, intersex and non-binary people age 50 to 69.

You must be living in Ireland and have a PPS number.

If you have had breast surgery

You may still need screening even if you have had:

• a mastectomy - surgery (an operation) to remove your breasts or part of your breasts
• top surgery (surgery to remove the breasts and have male chest reconstruction)

This is because you may still have female breast tissue. Talk to your surgeon. They will confirm if you still have female breast tissue.

Transgender, non-binary or intersex

You can take part in breast screening if you're transgender, non-binary or intersex and:

• were registered male at birth and have been taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than 5 years
• were registered female at birth and have breasts or female breast tissue

If you need support for your breast screen appointment

What breast screening involves

Breast screening involves having a mammogram of your breasts. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to find breast cancer when it's too small to see or feel.

Breast screening takes place at a BreastCheck clinic or a mobile screening unit.

You'll get a letter with your results within 3 weeks of your mammogram. Your GP will also get your results.

In most cases, results are normal and no cancer is found.

Breast screening does not find all breast cancer. But screening lowers your chance of breast cancer being diagnosed at a later stage.

When you will be offered a breast screen

If you're on the breast screening register, and we have your correct address we will write to you from age 50.

This is to invite you to a breast screening appointment.

We aim to send you an appointment letter:

• for your first screening test by age 52 - in some cases 53
• every 2 to 3 years after that, up to the age of 69

You can join, check or update the breast screening register from age 48.

How you can make sure your correct details are on the breast screening register.

Check for symptoms of breast cancer

Screening does not find all cancers. Cancer can happen at any time, including between your screening appointments.

It is important to be aware of breast cancer symptoms and check your breasts regularly for any changes. Do this even if you went to your screening appointments.

Your risk of breast cancer increases as you get older.

How to check your breasts

What you can do to reduce the risk of breast cancer

Translated guides to breast screening

You can download guides to BreastScreen in Irish, English, Ukranian and Russian:

• English: Important information about your breast screening (PDF, 1.07 MB, 16 pages)
• Irish: Faisnéis thábhachtach faoi do scagadh cíche (PDF, 1.10 MB, 16 pages)
• Ukranian: Важлива інформація про скринінг раку молочної залози (PDF, 1 MB, 16 pages)
• Russian: Важная информация о скрининге рака молочной железы (PDF, 1 MB, 16 pages)

BreastCheck screening information video

Watch this video to find out about breast screening in Ireland.

Translated videos

Our BreastCheck screening video is available in 25 languages.