Manx Breast Cancer Support Group has said it will continue its campaign to maintain cancer screenings until they get a firm commitment from the government in writing.
The charity’s petition has now accumulated over 4,000 signatures since it was launched last Friday.
In Keys this week Health Minister Claire Christian said she would not “currently” support any proposed changes to the frequency of breast screening.
However, the charity says it wants a guarantee in black and white that services will not be cut.
Won’t Stop
The charity thanked everyone who has supported it so far and said there are now physical copies of the petition being spread around the island for people to sign.
It added: “We aren’t stopping until we have written guarantees from the Minister for Health assuring us the the two yearly Screening Program won’t stop on our island until a better more effective way of Screening for Breast Cancer is found.”
Questioning the intentions of ministers, the charity has highlighted the phrasing around the commitments so far, saying the wording has been chosen “not without intention”
It said: Our charity has upgraded the diagnostic equipment in our Breast Unit to the highest level and we’ve spent over £10 million pounds in Nobles – much of it to improve diagnostic equipment.
“We must fight to make sure breast cancer screening is not changed from a GOLD SERVICE (which is what we supply at the moment) to match that of the WORST level in Europe.”
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