Donal Buggy
Head of Services, Irish Cancer Society
For people with blood cancer, their treatment journey can take a number of paths, but for many, there is hope.
It is little known that, together, those living with blood cancers represent almost one in ten cancer cases, with more than 2,000 people across Ireland diagnosed every year. Blood cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in Ireland but, thankfully, new treatments are improving survival rates and giving fresh hope to patients.
Treatment options vary according to the aggressiveness of the cancer
Acute, aggressive forms of blood cancer require immediate treatment. Blood cancer management can often be similar to chronic conditions.
In cases where the cancer is not aggressive, patients can opt to be monitored by their doctor through ‘active surveillance’ – where regular check-ups and blood tests are carried out in lieu of immediate treatment. Whether treatment is required at a later stage depends on progression of the disease.
For those who’ve had treatment, people living with blood cancer may enter a period of remission where the cancer cells are completely or partially gone and they are monitored closely to ensure the cancer does not come back.
Carers need support in giving mental health, dietary and exercise advice
9/10 blood cancer patients felt that the care they received from a carer was huge or high importance to them. But almost 2/3 carers themselves received no support on how to carry out their role.
Following this, they identified areas of training and support that would have helped them better prepare for their role including: mental health or mindfulness training (46%); information on diet and exercise (28%) and how to get the most out of an appointment (33%) with a healthcare professional.
Cancer survivorship and life after cancer
In August, we helped launch ‘Living With and Beyond Cancer in Ireland’; this report sets out the model of care needed for cancer survivors in Ireland. 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, 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. Financial issues include increased stress. This is due to lower household incomes and an increase in costs to help manage side effects of treatment.
For questions or concerns about any aspect of
cancer, call the Irish Cancer Society’s Cancer Nurseline on Freephone 1800 200
700 (lines are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), or drop into one of our 13 Daffodil
Centres in hospitals nationwide.