Local News Jan 08

Seven year wait for NW cancer unit 14.03.08 Courtesy of Inishowen news.com

A BUNCRANA-based councillor said he believes the cross-border satellite radiotherapy unit for the North West will happen but not until after 2015.
Cllr. Pádraig MacLochlainn welcomed the update but said he saw no reason why the people of the North West should have to wait more than seven years for the life-saving centre. He received the information following a written question to the North's Health Minister Michael McGimpsey by West Tyrone MP and MLA, Pat Doherty. Mr. Doherty had asked for the progress report on Mr. McGimpsey's communications on the issue with his counterpart in the Republic, Minister Mary Harney.

"In response, Mr. McGimpsey said he asked service commissioners to take forward the development of a business case for an increase in radiotherapy provision in the six counties that would ensure sufficient capacity to meet demand from 2015," said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"Initial assessment of projected cancer incidence conducted by the department suggests that a combination of radiotherapy services in Belfast and a satellite radiotherapy centre in the North West would best meet the needs of

people in the region beyond 2015 and that the business case for this would be informed by his department's ongoing discussions with Mary Harney's department."
Cllr. MacLochlainn said while he now believed the Departments of Health, North and South, had accepted in principle the case for a satellite cancer centre in the North West, it was "unacceptable" patients would have to wait another seven years.

Mammograms today for 15 Donegal women 03.03.08

FIFTEEN women from the Donegal Travellers' Project will travel to Belfast today for mammograms with Action Cancer Northern Ireland.
The visit is part of the Donegal Travellers' Project ongoing primary health care programme and the HSE's bid to reduce the mammogram waiting list in the county.
The Donegal Travellers' Project will give a nominal donation to Action Cancer for the fifteen mammograms.
Angela O‘Leary, one of the team who organised the event said it was the first time a group of Traveller women had used the cross-border service.
"It saddens us to see that these services are not available here on our doorstep. This type of service should be available locally for all women over 40. Mammograms lead to early detection and save lives," said Ms. O'Leary.
One of the women making the journey on Monday added: "I would never have known about the service except that the primary health care project came out to visit me. Also, I don’t drive and I'm delighted to be going as part of a group from my own community. "
Other recent Donegal Travellers' Project initiatives on women’s health include talks on the importance of breast checks and self examination. In April, cholesterol screening, blood sugar and heart checks will be carried out on Traveller women in the Letterkenny area.
Meanwhile, primary health care project co-ordinator, Paula Leonard said the group would continue to lobby for better health services for all women in the county.
Citing early detection as crucial to breast cancer survival rates, Ms. Leonard said the lack of screening in Donegal was "quite literally, a matter of life and death".

Courtesy of Inishowen News.com


	( Courtesy of Inishowen News.com)

A little Lolly goes a long way 22.02.08
PEOPLE in Inishowen are being urged to be mindful of the signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer. Today is Lollipop Day, February 22, and it is dedicated to highlighting what is one of the most deadly forms of the disease. One of the main symptoms of oesophageal cancer a difficulty in swallowing.
"We hope that lollipops will make people conscious of swallowing, as difficulty swallowing is one of the common symptoms. We also hope that the profit we make from selling lollipops will enable more research and better treatment and amenities for patients
suffering from this disease," said a Lollipop Day spokesperson from the Oesphageal Cancer Fund. Meanwhile, Inishowen Senator Cecilia Keaveney said Lollipop Day was another occasion for an all-island approach to health awareness. "There is a growing problem of oesophageal cancer, particularly among young people and women in Ireland. One of the first signs is a problem in swallowing. This type of cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer," she said. "But the issue is broader than just one type of cancer. There is good work ongoing by individual groups promoting Daffodil Day or Lollipop Day but there needs the back up of a sound all-island health promotion and disease awareness activity at the Governmental level," she added.


	Cervical cancer warning to women 24.01.08

WOMEN in Inishowen are being urged to protect themselves against cervical cancer.
European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is currently underway in a bid to raise awareness about all aspects of the disease.
Figures show that around 180 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Ireland every year with 73 of those cases resulting in death.

The figures were outlined by female politicians in the region who called on women to keep themselves healthy.
“A lot of the problem lies in confusion or ignorance of the disease and the campaign being run by the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week in association with the Irish Family Planning Association

aims to inform women about the actions they can take to protect themselves," said Senator Cecilia Keaveney. “It is very common - in fact up to 80 per cent of women will come into contact with the virus at some point in their lifetime."
Meanwhile, Independent MEP, Marian Harkin this week signed the ‘Stop Cervical Cancer’ petition in the European Parliament in Brussels.
"Our mortality rate for cervical cancer is above the European average for the EU 15, according to figures published for 2002 and this is totally unacceptable," said Ms. Harkin.
Cervical cancer is caused by a common virus, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual intercourse or intimate skin-to-skin genital contact.
The Government is planning to roll out a National Cervical Screening Programme this year to provide free screening for women aged between 25 and 44 every three years and every five years for women ages 45 to 60.
Both female politicians said it was imperative this screening programme goes ahead without delay.
More information on cervical cancer is available from local GPs or from any Irish Family Planning Clinic.

The national Cancer Helpline can also help with queries and can be reached on 01 800 200 700. Courtesy of www.inishowen news.com

98 new cases of prostate cancer

There were 98 new cases of prostate cancer in Donegal in 2005, new figures from the Irish Cancer Society reveal.

Every year in Ireland there is a total of 1,370 new cases, leading to 519 deaths. New cases each year represent 15 per cent of all cancers and 13 per cent of all cancer deaths in men in the country.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among Irish men after skin cancer. The majority of the men diagnosed with the disease are over 50.

The Irish Cancer Service's Prostate Cancer Information Service has dealt with 5,830 enquires and dealt with 685 men at six public meetings, including one in Donegal, since the service was launched in 2006.

Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Service, John McCormick, said raising awareness of prostate cancer and encouraging men to look after their health are key aims of the Action Prostate Cancer Initiative.

03 January 2008 4:35 PM ( Courtesy of the Derry Journal.com)