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‘Phenomenal’ – study hailed a significant milestone in child cancer care

Professor Owen Smith, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), has launched Ireland’s first clinical study of genomics approaches in cancer care.

Genomic sequencing allows medical teams to better identify cancerous cells and target them specifically.

“We need to stop carpet bombing cancers and go for a more sniper fire or precision way of killing the cancer and reducing the side effects to the patient,” Prof Smith said.

“Genomic sequencing of the cancer and the patient will allow us to define the patients where chemotherapy can be safely reduced,”

The primary objective of MAGIC-I is to evaluate the clinical and health economic impact of implementing genomic diagnostics in paediatric cancer care in Ireland.

https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2025/0423/1508973-cancer-study/#:~:text=’Phenomenal’%20%2D%20study%20hailed%20a%20significant%20milestone%20in%20child%20cancer%20care&text=A%20five%2Dyear%20project%20using,according%20to%20a%20paediatric%20consultant.

Lynch Syndrome

https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-information/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/cancer-and-genes/lynch-syndrome

Lynch syndrome increases the risk of a number of cancers. In general, the risk is highest for colorectal (bowel) cancer, but it depends on the gene affected. 

Some colorectal (bowel) cancers are hereditary. Up to 5 people out of every 100 diagnosed with bowel cancer have Lynch syndrome. Other cancers linked to Lynch syndrome include:

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/lynch-syndrome/

  1. About
  2. Testing and diagnosis
  3. Your results
  4. Help and support
  5. Reducing your risk of cancer
  6. Children and family planning

Metachronous colorectal cancer risks after extended or segmental resection in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6Lynch syndrome: multicentre study from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database

According to the European Hereditary Tumour Group’s latest position report, LS is now considered an umbrella term for four distinct types of LS: MLH1 syndrome, MSH2syndrome, MSH6 syndrome, and PMS2 syndrome. These syndromes vary with regard to the age of onset of the associated cancers, sex predominance, and cancer incidence rates.

PLSD: Analysis of 8500 path_MMR carriers undergoing colonoscopic surveillance .

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the risk of metachronous CRC, stratified by gene and the extent of the resection in previous surgery, contributing to the ongoing discussion on surgical strategies for LS patients.

https://academic.oup.com/bjs/article/112/4/znaf061/8113421?login=false&fbclid=IwY2xjawJwP6BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHstJO1twd022mBrfrcrADPLF_LfJZU6EJp7fqx9eDmpDHwkEOS6dzNDs9AkU_aem_PKKQVZ4ubPhaO9VyxUkRzw

Bowel Prep for Colonoscopy: Quality Matters

Bowel Prep Is Critical

When we talk about quality in colonoscopy, we’re referring to adenoma detection and sessile serrated lesion detection, along with the associated documentation that we perform. 

Achieving that level of quality is not just about writing a prescription for the prep and instructing your patients to follow through with it. Rather, it means providing guidance around diet modification and medication management and explaining the importance of the prep and how it is integral to colonoscopy performance.

It’s a shared responsibility. You, as well as your staff, need to take the time to discuss it with your patients.

Ensuring a quality prep is central to achieving our overall goals in colonoscopy and also in colorectal cancer prevention. Quality is what the patient should expect when a prep is prescribed. Referring physicians and healthcare providers should expect their patients to receive a high-quality colonoscopy prep. It’s our obligation as gastroenterologists to fulfill these expectations. 

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/bowel-prep-colonoscopy-quality-matters-2025a10007al?form=login

The ins and outs and ups and downs of a colonoscopy

Going for a #colonoscopy?

This popular blog answers your-most asked questions: how to get ready for the test, what you can and can’t eat, what happens and how long the test takes…

https://www2.healthservice.hse.ie/organisation/nss/news/the-ins-and-outs-and-ups-and-downs-of-a-colonoscopy/

HSE National Clinical Guideline: Active surveillance for patients with prostate cancer

Scope: The scope of the guideline is to provide clinical recommendations on the active surveillance of patients with prostate cancer. Any other treatment was considered to be out of scope.

Summary of National Clinical Guideline

This National Clinical Guideline contains evidence-based recommendations.

This guideline is for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer whose cancer may be suitable for “active surveillance”. Active surveillance is where you watch patient’s cancer closely and only start treatment if test results show it is getting worse. The document explains which patients’ prostate cancer can be managed with active surveillance. It also outlines the tests used to monitor the cancer during active surveillance and how often to get the tests.

It covers:

 which patients are suitable for active surveillance enrolment

 what type of tests should be included on an active surveillance protocol

 how often should patients receive each test on an active surveillance protocol

 when should a patient switch from active surveillance to a different treatment

The document also describes the changes in test results that may lead to switching to a different treatment. Ask your doctor or any member of your treating team if you want to know about your test results or treatment options.

Click to access 20250410_NCG_Active_Surveillance_Prostate_Cancer.pdf

Lynch syndrome for the gynaecologist (Nov 2020)

Key content
  • Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition closely associated with colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancer.
  • Women with Lynch syndrome are at increased risk of both endometrial and ovarian cancer and should be offered personalised counselling regarding family planning, red flag symptoms and risk-reducing strategies.
  • Surveillance for gynaecological cancer in women with Lynch syndrome remains controversial; more robust data are needed to determine its effectiveness.
  • Universal testing for Lynch syndrome in endometrial cancer is being adopted by centres across Europe and is now recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; thus, gynaecologists must become familiar with testing strategies and their results.
  • Testing strategies involve risk stratification of cancers based on phenotypical features and definitive germline testing.

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tog.12706

HSE Health A-Z

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJkYm5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHkFLUBpOydNbjldMlqnKhFD4QPIqKDYAcq9evuEd5_8reM0IMb1AqnvBNIVo_aem_MZRw4PsbrQDiYxV5n49fCA#L

Check out new addition on “Lynch syndrome” thanks to NCCP.