Tag: health

Individual Health Identifier (IHI)

Did you know….

The Health Identifiers Act 2014 was enacted by the government to allow two new national data collections–called the National Register of Individual Health Identifiers and the National Register of Health Service Provider Identifiers to be created and operated.

An Individual Health Identifier (IHI) has the following benefits for you:

Improved accuracy in identifying you and your medical records will
lead to safer and better care being provided to you.
Improved accuracy in identifying and associating your records in
different healthcare organisations.
Your health information can be shared safely and seamlessly
between health service providers, for example on referral letters
sent from a private GP to a public hospital.
The use of an Individual Health identifier also enables the
electronic transfer of your health information, which results in faster
care for you.

Medical or clinical information will NEVER be stored on your IHI record. Health
service providers may however use your IHI, to uniquely identify you, when
communicating with other health service providers about your care for example
when a medical consultant is corresponding with your GP or visa versa.

Click to access questions-regarding-the-individual-health-identifier-ihi-number.pdf

What increases my risk of uterine (womb) cancer?

The cause of uterine (womb) cancer is unknown. But there are certain things called risk factors that can increase your chance of developing the disease. These include:

  • Age: It is more common in women after the menopause between the ages of 50 and 64.
  • Being overweight: If you are overweight, your risk of uterine cancer is increased.
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): If you are taking oestrogen-only HRT for a long time after the menopause, your risk of uterine cancer is slightly increased.
  • Family history: Family history of uterine cancer in a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter). If you have an inherited faulty gene, it raises your risk of developing uterine or bowel cancer. In a small number of families, this faulty gene can cause a condition called Lynch Syndrome .
  • No pregnancies: If you have not had children or never been pregnant, your risk of uterine cancer is increased.
  • Polycystic ovaries: If you have polycystic ovaries, your risk is increased. This is a condition where cysts grow in the ovaries.
  • Menstrual history: If your started your periods early in life and / or started your menopause later, your risk is higher. 

https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/uterine-womb-cancer/what-increases-my-risk-of-uterine-womb-cancer

Ciara shares how knowledge of her Lynch Syndrome status enabled her to avail of risk-reduction measures that prevented endometrial cancer

We wish to thank Ciara for allowing us to share her story for World Gynaecological Oncology Day. Ciara hopes by sharing her story she can raise awareness of the role genetic risk-factors play in the development of gynea cancers and give hope to others 💜

Over the years, I was aware of Lynch syndrome due to several members of my Mum’s family having it. My great aunt had wrote out a family tree of all family with the inherited gene. That valuable information was then transferred to the genetics clinic.

After a blood sample in 2017, the genetics clinic confirmed that I had Lynch Syndrome with MSH2 gene alteration. It was recommended that I go for a colonoscopy every two years.

Two years ago I was referred to the Gynaecology department for surveillance. Blood tests, ultrasound tests and endometrial biopsies were offered. It was then I started to research the lifetime risk of endometrial cancer associated to MSH2 (40-60%) and understand the importance of surveillance. My endometrial biopsy confirmed I had atypical endometrial hyperplasia which is a pre-cancerous condition of the uterus. Having risk reducing surgery at 44 was the only and logical thing to do my situation. It has been a lot to process emotionally at times, but I am fortunate to have a loving partner, friends, family and other outlets for support. Under the exceptional care of Dr Astbury and her team at UHG, I had a full abdominal hysterectomy in February this year and have recovered well. I am very lucky the endometrial biopsy surveillance was done when it was. The early detection prevented me from needing further treatment after my surgery. I will be forever grateful for everything Dr Astbury and her team have done in order to protect my health.  

Ciara Donoghue

#WorldGODay2024 #GynaeCancers #riskfactors #earlydetection #HereditaryCancers #CancerGenetics