MAY 2005

Health Minster, Mary Harney, agrees to meet Donegal Action for Cancer Care

Last week Health Minister Mary Harney said she will meet a delegation from Donegal Action for Cancer Care as soon as she can. The Tánaiste made the promise to a number of cancer patients from Donegal at St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin

Breast cancer patient and DACC member from Moville, Noelle Duddy, presented the Minister with a copy of the letter sent to her by the group last month, requesting a meeting to discuss their concerns. Noelle asked the Minister if she was aware that in some cases, women with breast cancer in Donegal were having to undergo mastectomies which were not medically necessary, because they could not attend weeks of radiotherapy sessions in Dublin. She also told the Minister about the lengthy delays Donegal patients have to face in getting radiotherapy treatment. Noelle also told the Minister that terminally ill patients who need radiotherapy treatment as part of their palliative care can't always avail of this treatment because of the distances involved. "As one gets older, the risk of developing cancer increases", says Noelle. "Donegal has one of the highest populations in the over 65 group in the country. Therefore we need to have a radiation facility in letterkenny so that these patients can get treatment in the comfort and presence of their family and friends."

Noelle was waiting for over three months before starting her radiotherapy treatment in Dublin. The call for the treatment came less than a week after speaking to the media about the delay. John Friel, Buncrana, a prostate cancer patient, who waited for six months for his radiotherapy treatment, was similarly called in less than a week after speaking out at a public meeting in Buncrana. He told the Minister that delays in prostate cancer treatment were unacceptable.

Three new DACC branches have been set up taking the total number in the county to nine. Lifford had their first meeting last Wednesday 18th May. Rathmullan branch convened for the first time on Tuesday 24th May, and the Milford branch will meet 25th May.

Trish Hegarty, the Chairperson of DACC said that she expects a county committee to be formed by the end of May. She added that the Ballybofey/Stranorlar and Gweedore areas have been targeted for branches. "By that stage we should have nearly every area of Donegal covered." she said.

Meeting planned for Malin as Cancer Action Group goes Countrywide

Donegal Action for Cancer Care will hold a public meeting in the Malin Hotel on Monday 13th June, as part of their ongoing campaign to secure proper cancer treatment services in the country.

The group wants the immediate appointment of a radiation oncologist to Letterkenny, a commitment to the development of a satellite radiotherapy clinic in the longer term, and a commitment that existing cancer services will be maintained here.

Having held a number of meetings already cancer patients all over Donegal are now about to unite in a new countrywide committee, as part of the new Donegal Action for Cancer Care campaign. The campaign started in Moville, and now has branches in Buncrana, Carndonagh/Malin, Letterkenny, and the St Johnson/Carrigans area. Plans are also underway for new branches in Twin Towns, Lifford, the Rathmullan/Ramelton area, and Creeslough/Dunfanaghy area and others.

Donegal Action for Cancer Care now plans to draw together representatives from all these branches to form a central coordinating committee for the county.

The meeting in the Malin Hotel on Monday 13th June, will have a number of local speakers and everyone is welcome to come along on the night.

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