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Health Minister Simon Harris speaking about the supports that cancer patients need to move on with their lives after getting the all clear. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Minister: 'We need to start talking openly about fertility, sex and life in general post-cancer'

Today, Simon Harris launched the National Cancer Survivorship Needs Assessment, called Living With and Beyond Cancer in Ireland.

HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has said the State will give the financial supports necessary to support cancer survivors and the range of services they need post-treatment.

Today, the minister launched the National Cancer Survivorship Needs Assessment, called Living With and Beyond Cancer in Ireland.

Stakeholders were told at the event that only 13% of cancer survivors were not given a formalised cancer survivorship pathway for them post-treatment.

This is despite medical professionals stating that patients often require psychological help and counselling, have difficulties returning to work, experience relationship difficulties, as well as fertility and sexual difficulties when treatment has ceased.

Harris said that the difficulties associated with a cancer diagnosis don’t end when someone has been given the all clear.

While the positive is that over 200,000 people in living in Ireland are cancer survivors, he said supports should not be limited to the medical treatment given at hospitals.

He admitted that the health service, while giving excellent medical cancer treatment, has fallen short in giving survivors proper care plans to move forward with their lives.

Life beyond cancer

Harris said he attended a cancer support group for men where he heard their stories about how they were facing difficulties beyond the traditional medical issues.

Issues in relation to sexuality, issues in relation to the fact that your sex life may change forever, issues in relation to the fact that you may survive cancer but physically you may not be the same, in relation to the fact that you’ve gone from perhaps being the breadwinner in your house to now needing to meet the medical costs of cancer as well.
Real issues that we haven’t been talking about. People have been talking about the privately in these counselling sessions and with the Irish Cancer Society for years. But today, what we’re doing as a country, we’re recognising that there’s a whole range of needs, that people with cancer have and their family have.

221 Living With and Beyond Cancer in Ireland_90577974 (LtoR) Dr Jerome Coffey, Director of the NCCP-National Cancer Control Program, Louise Mullen, National Lead for Cancer Survivorship, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Averil Power CEO of Irish Cancer Society. Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The minster said today is the first step in formalising and mapping out what supports cancer survivors say they need. Harris said cancer charities and organisations had been doing stellar work in offering treatment and therapies.

Supports for cancer survivors

“Being truthful, to date we haven’t supported it properly, or we’ve supported it on the very ad hoc basis. So we do need to look at the whole issue of standards, we need to look at the issue of how we map out those services, making sure that there’s an equity of access across the country. And then crucially, are we going to help financially support it and yes, we are.”

He said once the working group sets out the supports that are needed, services should be offered in the community, not in a hospital setting. 

Louise Mullen the Lead for Cancer Survivorship in the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) said the transition from diagnosis to treatment and then into post-treatment can be “very traumatic”, leaving many with a feeling of “what now” and with a fear that if they speak about their feelings it will be a burden on their families.

Averil Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society welcomed its recommendations and called for the government to quickly put them into action.

She said:

Until now, the focus of Ireland’s cancer services has been on increasing the survival rate. This has delivered major improvements in the detection and treatment of cancer and ensured that 6 out of 10 people now survive a cancer diagnosis. While this is incredible progress, the long-term needs of cancer survivors have been overlooked.  
Surviving cancer can bring with it real challenges. While there is often an expectation people will return to ‘normal life’ after their treatment has stopped, the reality is often quite different. While many people return to good health, others experience ongoing issues for years afterwards.
Short- and long-term effects of cancer treatment can affect every aspect of daily life. Physical issues include incontinence, bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, weight changes, sleep disturbance and fatigue. Emotional and psychological effects include shock, distress and fear of recurrence, low self-esteem and depression. 
Social and intimacy issues include lack of support, fear of burdening family and friends, loss of identity and altered relationships. And financial issues include increased stress due to financial difficulties, lack of or reduced household income, and an increase in costs to help manage side effects of treatment.

Speaking about fertility specifically, Power said there’s a need for patients to get assistance it from the very start of their diagnosis.

“Having an open and honest conversation with their physician about the fact that their fertility may be impaired, about the treatment and having the option through the public health service of taking preventive steps, things like I’m freezing, so that they may be able to reactivate those in years to come and then when they go to use IVF, having that free here like it is in other countries.”

To date, Power said State support for cancer survivors has been “patchy and inconsistent”, adding that now was the time for the minister to make progress. 

A working group will now assess the recommendations and advise government about the services and financial supports that are needed for delivery.

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21 Comments
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    Mute John Fahy
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    Aug 19th 2019, 6:14 PM

    This has been a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of Fine Gael

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    Mute Emma Fitzpatrick
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    Aug 19th 2019, 6:22 PM

    @John Fahy: You don’t think that those who come through the other side are important?

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    Mute John Fahy
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    Aug 19th 2019, 6:32 PM

    @Emma Fitzpatrick: I certainly do but I wouldn’t be relying on Simon to improve things for them.

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    Mute Kerry Lawless
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    Aug 19th 2019, 6:59 PM

    @John Fahy: They have no interest in improving things. That’s why they are setting up a group to look at it and kick it down the road. Why not do basic things like fund physiotherapy and counselling, provide travel allowances and reserve the clothing grants. Then see what else is needed.

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Aug 19th 2019, 7:16 PM

    We need to start talking about cancer patients not being entitled to a medical card and being charged serious money for parking at hospitals.

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    Mute Artugal
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    Aug 19th 2019, 6:18 PM

    Hey Simon, what about immediate treatment? Err Simon?

    Siiiiiiimooooon?!

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    Mute pat seery
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    Aug 19th 2019, 7:47 PM

    All spin and no Action Minister

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    Mute Anne-Sophie O-M
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    Aug 19th 2019, 7:00 PM

    “He admitted that the health service, while giving excellent medical cancer treatment” – really? What about those who are dying because they are being continuously denied life saving drugs by the NCPE and the HSE in order to save money?

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    Mute SJF
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    Aug 19th 2019, 11:41 PM

    @Anne-Sophie O-M: Whilst I agree that the health service is a crumbling shambles I have to correct you here. Ireland is probably in terms of what they are willing to spend on cancer drugs for patients – among the best in the world – usually the only reason someone with cancer will be denied a drug, as you put it, is if it’s not legally licensed for use in the EU/Ireland

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    Mute Kay English Curtin
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    Aug 20th 2019, 9:14 PM

    @SJF: that’s actually factually incorrect Ireland is usually one of last countries in Europe to approve new cancer drugs for use take for example the situation for Stage 3 Melanoma patients who cannot access treatment in HSE that is available throughout Europe these patients have a 50‰chance of becoming terminal, if you have VHI you can have the treatment

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    Mute Liam Sheahan
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    Aug 19th 2019, 8:38 PM

    Improve access to diagnosis and treatment is the first priority.

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    Mute SJF
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    Aug 19th 2019, 11:42 PM

    @Liam Sheahan: and screening tests and primary prevention, can’t emphasise that enough.

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    Mute Anne-Sophie O-M
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    Aug 20th 2019, 7:57 AM
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    Mute SJF
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    Aug 20th 2019, 12:24 PM

    @Anne-Sophie O-M: that’s one drug…you have no idea how much the Irish government spend on cancer drugs …besides they weigh up the cost-risk benefit… people don’t seem to realise that these “last-ditch” drugs for the most part don’t significantly improve prognosis and a lot of the time are expensive and won’t amount to anything if there was solid and reliable data that this drug significantly improved outcome in a reasonable cohort of patients (and that one “miracle” example usually trotted out as a reason we should fund these drugs doesn’t count) you can bet your bottom dollar it would be available

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    Mute Martin Harte
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    Aug 19th 2019, 8:21 PM

    Simple Simon says keep quiet and vote for us like good sheep when the time comes

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    Mute William Bryan
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    Aug 19th 2019, 8:45 PM

    Rapid treatment Simon would be a start

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Aug 19th 2019, 8:20 PM

    It’s probably another website that’s used as excuse for ‘care’. Go to FAQ. Grand. Thanks.

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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Aug 19th 2019, 8:16 PM

    The state will do what now?? The state under our current government won’t do a thing for anyone except themselves and their cronies and the rest of us be damned.

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    Mute KJmadra.
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    Aug 19th 2019, 9:13 PM

    Bullshitte%

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    Mute Jean Farrelly
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    Aug 20th 2019, 2:40 AM

    That is wonderful news if the government invest in all areas of after care cancer patient needs, not just on Averil Power’s statement that she is focusing on fertility and IVF treatment. For some strange reason when I hear Averil Power I always think Lobbyists. Although it will be interesting to see who the HSE gives the contract/ tender too; the Beacon do a lot of advertising for their new fertility clinic, I wonder who owns that?

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    Mute John Flood
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    Aug 20th 2019, 9:34 AM

    Nearly 10 years ago I advocated to the ICS that they endorse and use the American Cancer Society “roadmap” for newly diagnosed cancer patients. I felt my care was good, but if I didn’t ask the questions I wouldn’t know what lie before me. Often this caused contention between myself and attending physicians. Only with the help of the colorectal nurses did I receive in-depth answers and guidance. But the pathway beyond the hospital care was vague and often I went to Dr Google for some answers from recognised sources. I’m glad to read efforts are underway to fill the “ignorance” gap for patients and families!

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