Cancer Week Ireland – be part of the conversation this October

From coffee mornings to film screenings, expert advice to patient stories, communities throughout Ireland are being encouraged to get involved in Cancer Week Ireland, which takes place from 17th to 23rd October.

Initiated by the Irish Cancer Society and Trinity College Dublin, Cancer Week Ireland wants to start a national conversation about cancer this October. It is about getting everyone engaged in the issue of cancer and how we can prevent it, spot it earlier, improve treatment, and survive and thrive afterwards.

Between Monday 17th October and Sunday 23rd October, Cancer Week Ireland wants to inspire communities and organisations, large and small, to host an event and be part of the conversation.

A dedicated website – cancerweek.ie – has been set up to allow everyone to upload and promote their event to a wide audience. Whether you’re a medical professional, a cancer patient or survivor, or a member of the public, we want you to get involved.

While in its third year, 2016 is the first time that Cancer Week aims to be a truly nationwide initiative. The theme of Cancer Week Ireland this year is ‘New Frontiers in Personalised Cancer Care’.

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Among the events already planned for Cancer Week Ireland are:

• [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_preview","fid":"6192","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"180","style":"width: 180px; height: 180px; float: right; margin: 2px;","width":"180"}}]]Living Well with Cancer, the annual National Conference for Cancer Survivorship organised by the Irish Cancer Society, where anyone who has been affected by cancer has an opportunity to gain insight and practical advice that can make a difference in their daily lives (Saturday, 22nd October, Aviva Stadium Dublin). Learn more about the conference.
   
• The tenth International Cancer Conference, hosted by Trinity College Dublin, where an outstanding group of international speakers will give talks on advances in cancer prevention, immunotherapy, surgical oncology, radiotherapy and targeted therapeutics (Monday, 17th and Tuesday, 18th October, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin).
   
• Cancer Prevention: from Denis Burkitt to the Human Genome Project, a talk by the 2017 recipient of the Burkitt Medal, Dr Paul Brennan, Head of the Genetics Section of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France. The Burkitt Medal is designed to recognise people who demonstrate extraordinary achievement and advancement in the field of cancer internationally. (Tuesday, 18th October, 16.20pm, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin).
   
• A range of expert and support-driven events, from international clinical conferences to sanctuary stays for patients and movie screenings and discussions for all those interested in learning about cancer prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship – for more see cancerweek.ie.

Commenting on the nationwide initiative, Donal Buggy, Head of Services and Advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society said: "While still relatively new, Cancer Week has become a significant part of the work of the Irish Cancer Society, and we are delighted to expand the initiative this year across the country.

“Cancer survival rates in Ireland are at an all-time high, but the number of people diagnosed with cancer here is rising and is expected to double by 2040. This will lead to an increased need for resources and support which adequately addresses the physical, psychological and emotional issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“This October we invite you to be part of Cancer Week Ireland by hosting an event in your community, organisation, or workplace. Whether you have your own personal story to share, are working at the coalface of cancer services, or are investigating new ways to beat the disease join in the conversation this October.”

Professor John Reynolds, Professor of Surgery at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine & Consultant at St James’s Hospital, said: “We are delighted in Trinity to see the growth and development of Cancer Week Ireland into a national series of events. We hope that these events will encourage collaboration and conversation amongst those working at the forefront of cancer research and care and the patients at the heart of that care.”

Visit www.cancerweek.ie for more information.