Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I just want to make sure because certain things are coming that are not being discussed fully and then assumptions are being made publicly. All of this damages the screening programme. I thought the whole point was to have an adequate screening programme. Lorraine Walsh spoke yesterday about oncofertility and lymphedema These are the side-effects of surviving a devastating illness. There appear to be inadequate services for people who are diagnosed and treated and then have to deal with the issues that come from surviving such a devastating illness. I understand that there are recruitment and financial issues. W are trying to get over this hump, as it were, but what work is being done with the Irish Cancer Society in terms of referral pathways for women who maybe at 32 or 34 years of age find themselves with this devastating diagnosis? They might not have anybody in their lives they can turn to. They might not be able to have children. What about freezing eggs or any of the advice that is out there? In terms of dealing with women who have an early diagnosis and treatment and the pathways for them, as cancer survivors, is there anything in train?