Cancer Centre of Excellence should open in Sligo

Madam Editor,

The latest revelations (Irish Independent July 1) that thousands of breast cancer survivors who have had radical surgery, face added financial hardship, stress, and anxiety, following a HSE decision to cut vital supports is deeply distressing.

This a scandal of the highest order and penny pinching in the extreme. It comes in the wake of the decision to limit the supply of vital post-operation body enhancing products that help to improve the patients altered physical image and crucial self-esteem.

This simple and low - cost scheme is being targeted and undermines the pledge to support all cancer survivors.

The HSE attempted to justify the policy by stating that the new scheme will give every woman the same service countrywide and end the problem of some health areas having limited or no supports, regardless of gender.

Dr David Fennelly a medical oncologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital Dublin, said that women who are recovering from breast cancer surgery are anxious to get back to a normal life as quickly as possible, and should have instant access to the best supports available.

There is also an ever-increasing awareness that more needs to be done for people who are cancer survivors, in terms of psycho-oncology support, with a much greater geographical spread throughout the whole of the country.

There are eight cancer centres in the country none of them north of a Dublin- Galway line, yet only two of these have a dedicated service providing psychological support to cancer patients and their families.

Both are located in our capital city.

Recent reports suggest current services are coming under pressure as some centres are choc-a-block on a daily basis, and predictions are that the number of people diagnosed with the illness will double by the year 2040 as the population ages.

It is imperative that a cancer centre of excellence is established at Sligo University Hospital as soon as possible, with a dedicated psycho-oncology support unit to cater for all cancer patients across the North-West of the country.

Let us hope that the new National Cancer Strategy 20172026 to be announced by the Minister for Health Mr. Simon Harris, will provide these services with a much greater geographical spread.

We urge the new government to look more favourably on this vulnerable section of society, and provide services in a much more regional, balanced and dedicated way, that will help to alleviate much travel time for a great many sick and elderly patients.

Yours sincerely, Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co. Sligo.