SOME 98 per cent of women who require urgent assessment for breast cancer symptoms are now being seen within the required two weeks, interim director of the State’s National Cancer Control Programme Tony O’Brien said yesterday.
Mr O’Brien, who was speaking at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s 23rd Daffodil Day, also said that in many cases women with concerns about breast cancer who received urgent referrals to the eight designated cancer centres were being seen within a week.
The target was to have 95 per cent of urgent referrals seen within a fortnight, he said.
Meanwhile, he said the plan to reduce the number of hospitals performing rectal surgery from 40 to 13 would be achieved by mid-June and it was planned to transfer pancreatic surgery from the six hospitals currently providing it to St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, before the end of the year.
Mr O’Brien took over as interim director of the NCCP when its first head, Prof Tom Keane, returned to Canada recently.
The Irish Cancer Society meanwhile says it hopes to raise €4 million on Daffodil Day this year, which takes place on March 26th.
All money raised will be channelled into the provision of free services for people with cancer and their families.
These services include a night nursing service, oncology liaison nurses and financial aid to cancer patients. The society is also planning to expand its cancer information service by setting up at least five Daffodil Centres in a range of hospitals nationwide including designated cancer care centres, regional hospitals and private hospitals in 2010.
- To volunteer to help with fundraising on Daffodil Day call the Irish Cancer Society on 1850-606060 or visit www.cancer.ie