DONEGAL has nearly 100
new cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year, according to
a consultant radiologist at Letterkenny General
Hospital.
Dr. Donal O'Driscoll revealed the figure as he
issued a statement on behalf of the hospital's
consultants, welcoming the recent Government pledge
of a National Cancer Control Strategy recognising
the need for an outreach service in Letterkenny.
The service would recognise the "unique geographical
circumstances applying to Donegal".
"Perhaps now our voices are being heard," said Dr.
O'Driscoll. "This would not have happened without
the support and work of the people of Donegal."
The consultant radiologist said an outreach service
was already in place for the county's breast cancer
patients.
"Currently we manage close to one hundred new cases
of breast cancer each year in Letterkenny. All are
managed by a multi-disciplinary team comprising
surgeon, radiologists, pathologists, oncologist,
radiotherapist and specialist nurses.
"All cases are discussed with our colleagues in
Galway via tele-conferencing. This is to ensure that
we are always giving the best care to patients."
Dr. O'Driscoll said that some patients required
"complex reconstructive surgery" and had to travel
to Galway for such procedures.
"All their pre-operative imaging and other
investigations are carried out in Letterkenny," he
said, thanking the Friends of Letterkenny General
Hospital and people of Donegal for their continued
support.
The consultants' statement was released by
Co-operating for Cancer Care North West (CCC(NW),
who welcomed both the National Cancer Control
Strategy as well as Friday's pledge by the island's
health ministers to site a satellite radiation unit
in the North West, servicing patients from both
sides of the border.
"CCC(NW) is lobbying on both sides of the border for
a cancer unit for the people of the North West. As a
region we have the population of half a million, a
population large enough to provide the North West
with cancer services similar to that which Waterford
Regional Hospital is to receive via the
recommendations of the Cancer Control Strategy,"
said spokesperson Noelle Duddy.
"The NW doesn’t want a slice of cancer services, it
wants the whole pie, multidisciplinary cancer teams
from Letterkenny General Hospital and Altnagelvin
Hospital providing cancer treatments for the people
of the North West," she added. |
