Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Higher numbers of late-stage cancers are being diagnosed because of screening delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic according to Irish Cancer Society. Screening was paused in 2020 and CervicalCheck, BowelScreen and BreastCheck did not get back into operation for some time. BreastCheck cancer screening is currently running one year behind. The Irish Cancer Society has stated that 250,000 fewer people were screened for cancer in 2020 compared with the previous year. We have a cancer crisis in Ireland.

My mother died from cancer in 1984. Hers was a late diagnosis. During the pandemic, we have lived with cancer in our house. I have seen first-hand and experienced watching a loved one going for their treatment. When I see that general practitioners cannot get appointments for people for cancer screening, it cuts straight through me. I have lived with it. My good friend went to three public hospitals for late diagnosis because she had no private insurance. She had to pay €1,000 for a private hospital to tell her she had cancer. As stated, she went to three public hospitals. That woman left a husband and two children behind her. I consider us to be the lucky ones in that we have received the treatment and are working with it. I hate to see people not getting diagnosed or not getting screened. It is not right.

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