Open day to highlight bowel cancer

The continued growth in the number of cases of bowel cancer is becoming a challenge.

And, there is also a growing need for awareness of the disease that around 2,600 people are diagnosed with in Ireland every year.

It is the second most common cancers in men and the third most common in women.

A free event in the Sligo Park Hotel on April 19 which is open to all members of the public, hopes to shed some light on the causes and prevention of the disease.

The event is from 9am to 4.30pm and will feature a host of speakers including a man who was given a stark prognosis 20 years ago but has survived and will be telling his story of hope.

Teresa Donnelly, Director for the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education in the HSE, explained that the Centre delivers education to all of the services across the North West.

“April is bowel cancer month, so I work closely with the acute services.

“They are saying that there is an increase in people presenting with bowel cancer.

“It has come off the radar, so we got together and put on a day that highlights prevention and early detection and if you do get the disease and what supports are there.

“So, the Irish Cancer Society will be there and the North West services will be there so we will be starting the day with screening for early detection.

“It will be on April 26 in the Sligo Park Hotel from 9 am to 4.30 pm.”

She added:“There will be a patient, who survived bowel cancer 20 years ago who had been given a serious prognosis and he will talk about survivorship.”

“We are keen to raise awareness about the disease because there is possibly not the same emphasis on it as there used to be as it has gone off the radar and it is probably one of the most curable of cancers.

“People tend to put things on the long finger and our lives are so busy now.

“The day in the Sligo Park Hotel is about increased awareness, prevention, early detection and how to support people who do get a diagnosis and to let people know what services are out there.

“And I suppose we don’t realise all the services that are available.

“We have the Stoma Care services as well as the cancer support services in Sligo.

“And we have the Irish Cancer support services as well as some others.”

“We are hoping to get as many people as possible to attend as it is important to be aware of bowel cancer.”

Experts in the field are speaking and offering guidance and support topics covered include: Colorectal Screening, Diagnosis Support, Smoking Caseation, Survivorship, Irish Cancer Society, Sligo Cancer Support, Dietician, Surgery, Stoma Care and Stoma Support.