TY SCHOOLS & OUTREACH PROGRAMME
Breast Cancer Ireland’ s mandate, in addition to providing funding to support pioneering research is to provide education & awareness on the importance of breast health amongst women of all ages- with particular attention on younger women. Breastcheck, The Government agency offers mammogram screening to women between the ages of 50-65 years free of charge. For younger women it is all about making them more breast aware- knowing what is normal for them, from a younger age … so that if an abnormality is detected they can be seen and the outcome is a lot more positive. Our aim is through education and awareness to reduce this 14 % incidence in younger women. Breast Cancer Ireland launched their TY initiative earlier in the year as it is an ideal time to educate young women about their breast health. Currently the TY programmes offer a number of health related initiatives from relationship and sexual education to mental health awareness and fitness and nutrition. The TY Programme promotes maturity amongst young teens offering them a time to learn outside the regular academic curriculum The TY Schools Awareness Programme is tailored to promote good breast health … taking the fear factor out of a breast cancer diagnosis and educating young women about how to perform a self- breast examination. The key is raising awareness as awareness will save lives. The promotion of the app to this age group is also critical as they are the tech gurus of the modern age. It is our hope that these TY students will become our knowledge ambassadors going forward – informing and educating their peers, and all their female relatives and friends