A new Donegal based research project for cancer survivors was made possible due to the support of funds raised at the local event, Relay For Life Donegal.
Thanks to Relay For Life Donegal, €100,000 was invested by the Irish Cancer Society into an innovative project to investigate how cancer survivors can live healthier, happier lives.
News of the project was announced today at a special event in the Mount Errigal Hotel, hosted by Relay For Life Donegal. The funds raised by this year’s Donegal Relay For Life programme will go towards funding this hugely important patient-focussed research project.
Dr Janice Richmond, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the Oncology Department at Letterkenny University Hospital and Dr Jane Walsh Director of the Health Research Group in NUI Galway and Co-Director of the Health and Wellbeing Cluster in the Whitaker Institute, will play lead roles in carrying out research into ways in which cancer patients who have gone through treatment can feel better, both physically and psychologically.
They will be supported by Ms Mary Grace Kelly, Clinical Trials Nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Speaking at the announcement, Dr Richmond said: “The number of people in Ireland getting cancer is going up but the good news is that more people are living longer after cancerand even being cured.
“Cancer treatment is tough and can affect how someone is able to get back to work, care for their loved ones or just be involved in life again. Often there are follow-up hospital appointments which are focused more on physical symptoms and wellbeing after treatment but these rarely help people get their overall general health back on track.
“This research wants to see if we can improve how people feel both physically and psychologically after they have had cancer. This involves approaching people who have had cancer and who are overweight and asking them to take part in this study so that we can help them improve their health. Being overweight has been shown to negatively affect survival rates following cancer as well as making people feel less well overall.
“The research will involve 120 participants who will be attending the cancer unit in the hospital. Half of these will be given support and advice to improve their diet and activity levels. They will be compared to another 60 people who will receive the standard follow-up care. A wearable device will be used by all participants to monitor diet, sleep and exercise patterns.
“At the middle and end of the six-month study period all of the people involved will have their health looked at to see if there are any improvements or not. The people involved in this study will also be asked how they found the whole experience.”
Dr Richmond and Dr Walsh will co-lead a team of six researchers, working in collaboration with Ms Kelly and the wider clinical team in Letterkenny University Hospital.
News of the funding for the project comes as Relay For Life Donegal gears up for its 6th annual event – taking place this year in Letterkenny IT on May 27 and 28.
Participants in Relay For Life Donegal have raised vital funds over five years to support the work of the Irish Cancer Society, funding important research projects, like the new one to be undertaken in Letterkenny, and also free support services for cancer patients.
Mr Robert O’Connor, Chair, Relay For Life Donegal said: “For five years now the people of Donegal have been staunch in their support of Relay For Life in aid of the Irish Cancer Society and the charity’s work to fight back against this disease and support all those affected by cancer.
“All of us on the Relay For Life Donegal committee and our supporters in every corner of the county are immensely proud that money raised through Relay For Life Donegal is being used to directly support a new innovative project that originated from researchers at Letterkenny University Hospital.
“The research will examine ways to improve the physical health and mental wellbeing of cancerpatients right here in our community and indeed be used as a model to drive improvements in cancer care throughout Ireland.”
Speaking at the announcement of the research project, Dr Robert O’Connor, Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society, added: “The number of people with cancer in Ireland is expected to double by 2040, and that means more survivors than ever before. Patient focussed research projects, such as this one in Letterkenny, are vital when it comes to making sure that future cancer survivors are given the best possible care and support when it comes to their overall wellbeing.
“The Irish Cancer Society is truly grateful to the people of Donegal for helping to fund vital projects such as this through their participation in Irish Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Donegal and other initiatives.
“Relay For Life is an excellent example of how communities in Donegal and beyond can come together to fight back and improve the outcome for everyone affected by cancer. This research is all funded through donations, and because of that support the Irish Cancer Society is funding more than 80 researchers around the country engaged in leading projects to better understand how we can better prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.”
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