Seanad debates

Wednesday, 16 April 2003

Cancer Treatment Services: Statements.

 

We also know that there is a genetic basis in the case of both breast and ovarian cancer. It is not that common but we do have to try to pick out those groups most at risk of breast or bone cancer and the families in which they occur are entitled to screening. I have spoken several times in this House about the fact that the national centre for medical genetics in Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, which screens for breast cancer is squeezed for money. I do not know if it has run out of money but it undertook a pilot project which was incredibly successful following which it received another €80,000 to continue for a little longer and the last I heard was that it was going to have to let three of its technical staff go. If that happens, it means it simply will not be able to screen the blood samples taken from patients like this, which is really very bad, particularly in view of the fact that we now also know that the cancers which have a genetic predisposition require different treatment from those which do not and we certainly want patients to have the optimal treatment. Ovarian cancer presents a big problem regarding late diagnosis, as does cancer of the pancreas when, once again, late diagnosis leads to a much higher mortality rate. For example, in both men and women cancer of the pancreas accounts for only 2% of cancers but 5% of deaths.

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