Gloria Hunniford in Belfast to open UK's first 3D digital breast cancer screening facility

By Simon Hunter

The UK's first 3D digital breast cancer screening facility has been opened in Belfast.

A plaque at the 2.4 million pound  'Action Cancer House' was unveiled by Gloria Hunniford.

It can detect more cancers and brings down the number of women called for further investigation.

The new Therapeutic Centre houses 7 dedicated rooms, staffed by professional counsellors and therapists, offering a range of free sessions to reduce anxiety and pain symptoms, and improve sleep and emotional wellbeing.

Services are provided to children and adults, including counselling, life coaching, complementary therapies, acupuncture, reflexology, physiotherapy and scar therapy.

.@actioncancer Patron Gloria Hunniford has officially opened a new screening and therapeutic centre on Windsor Avenue, Belfast. It represents a £2.4M investment by the charity to meet the needs of current and future generations of local people affected by cancer. pic.twitter.com/vT6EEb4jwi

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 25, 2018

The new facility also provides a dedicated room for men and women aged 16+ to receive a Health Check.

The assessment includes blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol, and body composition analysis.

It does not diagnose cancer, but provides a snapshot of current health, and offers advice on improving overall health, to reduce cancer risk.

Gloria told Q Radio News she believes she was the first to receive a mammogram from the charity 4 decades ago, and lost her daughter Caron to breast cancer in 2004.

Ashley Hurst is a breast cancer survivor, and ambassador for the charity.

She adds, “Action Cancer saved my life through its breast screening service. Thankfully I am now cancer free but the impact of a cancer diagnosis on your mental health is massive and long lasting.

I have used counselling at Action Cancer to deal with the emotional after effects and help me to cope and adjust to a new normal.”