Author: Lynch Syndrome Ireland

Hospital to award €2.4m for cancer genetic testing service

St James’s is the national referral centre for adult inherited cancer genetics. Patients are referred from general practitioners, regional hospitals and cancer centres for cancer genetic counselling, risk assessment, and genetic testing. 

The testing provider would be responsible for subcontracting a courier service to track the sending and receipt of genetic testing kits; processing of the sample for cancer genetic testing; bioinformatics and data analysis and result outcome; and confidentiality of information submitted to the online portal to order the test.

As of early 2025, more than 2,600 adults nationally were awaiting a genetics outpatient appointment, with more than 750 waiting more than 18 months.

  • Genetic counsellors are healthcare professionals who provide support to those who are at risk for or affected by an inherited cancer condition.
  • Genetic counselling is not officially recognised by the HSE. This is challenging because it restricts access to genetic services.
  • 90% of genetic cancers go undetected.
  • The work of genetics counsellors is vital in improving identification of inherited cancer and cancer prevention. Currently there is an 80% deficient in GC resources in cancer care
Hospital to award €2.4m for cancer genetic testing service

Colon Cancer: Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy

If you’ve received chemotherapy as part of your colon cancer treatment, one of the side effects you may experience is numbness and tingling in you extremities, also known as peripheral neuropathy.

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Numbness and tingling of your extremities (hands and feet) is called peripheral neuropathy. This condition is associated with several causes, including chemotherapy to cancer treatment, and involves damage to the nerves between the extremities and the central nervous system.

Recovery from peripheral neuropathy is usually slow, but steps can be taken to encourage regeneration of the damaged nerves. Some approaches include acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and transcutaneous nerve stimulation.

https://news.cancerconnect.com/cervical-cancer/colon-cancer-understanding-peripheral-neuropathy

Why Are Colorectal Cancer Patients Getting Younger?

Increasing numbers of younger patients are being diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer.

What are the Epidemiological factors behind it, the age groups being affected, symptoms people should be paying attention to, preventative screening options, and where the research is going to try to reverse this alarming trend?

“I know this is an uncomfortable conversation for some, but it’s really important, and if there’s any question about whether polyps were removed and whether they’re the advanced kind or not … take photos to show those to your doctor,” Patel said. “Because patients with a family history of advanced polyps qualify for screening earlier and more frequently.”

https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/why-are-colorectal-cancer-patients-getting-younger

More than ‘just’ a GP

Research has shown that junior doctors are exposed to significant negative discourse around general practice as a specialty during their hospital-based training. The blaming of GPs for emergency department crowding is almost as inevitable as brand-new Health Ministers blaming consultants for the failings of the entire HSE (brand-new Health Ministers don’t tend to blame GPs for anything; they just forget we exist).

Perhaps we need to change the hashtag to #JustaHuman.

More than ‘just’ a GP

Consultant rostering and productivity under the microscope

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) position is that no patient should be on a waiting list for more than six weeks. This objective is “realistic when looking at other EU countries”.

“To achieve this, the very obvious shortages of hospital beds, theatres, diagnostic, and other facilities across the country need to be addressed, together with filling the hundreds of consultant posts that are vacant or filled on a temporary basis.

@mccarthymt7 “I think there is a big gap between the department of health and in-real-time hospital operations.

Consultants cannot deliver all of the activities that are necessary for efficient patient care. It is necessarily a multidisciplinary effort. If someone from the department could come and spend a day with me, then maybe they might get some clearer ideas on how to enhance productivity in a meaningful way.“

Consultant rostering and productivity under the microscope

Lynch Syndrome News

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time when healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of regular screenings for early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have shown an increase in colorectal cancer cases among individuals under 50, making awareness and early detection even more critical.

https://www.facebook.com/share/16CNb4nfzA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

New Approaches to Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment in Lynch Syndrome and Beyond

Case Conference, during which Matt Yurgelun, MD (@MattYurgelun) from @DanaFarber discusses new approaches to hereditary colorectal cancer risk assessment.

HSE Health App

This innovative tool empowers patients by providing easy access to their health information and will become the digital front door for patients in the coming months and years to navigate and access the health service.

Easily accessible health information that is accurate and trustworthy. The phased introduction of appointment notifications and reminders will make it easier for people to manage their care.

The first release includes functionality that allows people to:

  • carry a digital list of self-declared medications and see a list of medicines received through the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card Scheme
  • store your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), medical card, Long-term Illness card (LTI), Drugs Payment Scheme card (DPS) and GP Visit card
  • access ‘flu and COVID-19 vaccination records
  • easily find information about HSE services, such as Emergency Departments and Injury Units
  • view maternity service appointments (for expectant mothers)

Further planned releases over 2025 will allow people to:

  • access public hospital and screening appointments information for public patients
  • check referrals and waiting times information
  • receive additional self-care information and support services including smoking cessation and chronic disease management

People will need to ensure that they have a MyGov Identification. This is required to ensure that the HSE Health App has the highest level of authentication and security. If people do not have a MyGov Identity, then this can be received on the MyGovID website.

You can download the Free HSE Health App from the App Store or Google Play .