Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Cancer Awareness: Statements

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Maria CorriganMaria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Ireland and worldwide. In Ireland, it is responsible for 25% of deaths. Taking about cancer, sometimes referred to as "the big C", brings on anxiety and incredible dread, yet it is a very survivable disease. The debate we are having is very welcome because it gives us an opportunity to send a message of optimism to people. Over 80% of cancers are curable and over 30% are preventable. For this to be the case, behavioural changes and responses are required on our part. This is where cancer awareness plays a key role.

Awareness is the first step in bringing about attitudinal and behavioural change. Over recent years, an enormous number of education and information campaigns have been spearheaded by voluntary groups, such as the Irish Cancer Society, and Government bodies, such as the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. In the education, awareness and information that has been attempted to be put out lies the road to two critical steps: prevention and early detection. While not wanting to repeat what colleagues have said, when we look at what we know and at the evidence, we see that if we want to prevent cancer, there are a number of proactive and positive steps we can take. We can stop smoking, we can not smoke at all, we can improve our nutrition and we can improve our physical exercise. Smoking is attributable to 30% of all cancers and to 95% of lung cancers. Those statistics speak for themselves as to why, if we want to prevent cancer, we should either not start to smoke in the first instance or, if we are smokers, we should cease as quickly as possible.

On the campaigns we run with an aim to bringing about attitude and behavioural change, which changes are necessary if we really want to prevent the cancers, I often think of the effectiveness of environmental campaigns run with children. It is imperative that we start early. It is not only about educating the adults within our society. We must educate children. In meeting residents and constituents, often I am struck by them stating that the real trigger in bringing about attitude and behavioural change on their part when it came to recycling was the pressure they were put under when their children came home from school and insisted they segregate their waste because they were working towards their green flag. There is a really important lesson in that for us when we seek to bring about attitude and behavioural change on the part of all of our citizens.

Without wanting to repeat what colleagues have said about early detection, knowing the symptoms, recognising them and going for screening is very important, but that means we need to provide education and awareness in that regard. An interesting study by the Irish Cancer Society looking at bowel cancer and to which I will merely refer showed how little information on the symptoms was available.

Today is national no smoking day. Smoking must be one of the greatest menaces to stalk our health services. One should keep in mind that giving up smoking is not only about cancer prevention but also about a range of other diseases, from breathing disorders to blood pressure, heart disease, artery disease and stomach ulcers. Cancer affects not only the person who has it but all of his or her family. Excellent suggestions have been made to the Minister of State and I would urge her to consider them.

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