In her role as a Cancer Nurse on the Irish Cancer Society’s Support Line, every day Edel Brangan speaks to people affected by cancer. “This involves answering calls from people diagnosed with cancer, but also from their family and friends. We try to answer any queries we can, and we’re also there to listen to any concerns that they may have about cancer treatments, their home situation, or give them information on supports available to them either directly from the Irish Cancer Society or from other agencies.”

An experienced cancer nurse, Edel first qualified in the early 1990s. “I began my working as a cancer nurse in St Bartholomew's Hospital London, before moving to the Royal Marsden Hospital where I completed my BSc and Post-Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing. In 1996, I returned home to work in St. James Hospital as the first bone marrow and stem cell transplant coordinator.”

After moving back and forth from London, Edel settled in Ireland and became an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). She’s worked at the Irish Cancer Society since April 2023, but she first briefly worked for the organisation in 2000 writing patient information booklets. “It is wonderful to be back working with the Irish Cancer Society - an organization that has the patient’s interest at the forefront of their agenda.”

Edel chose to come back to the Irish Cancer Society as “patient care and patient concerns are the number one item on the agenda. It is the only agenda we have – we are here to support patients, their families, and friends. My favourite part of my work is the impact you make – it is lovely to know that one phone call can put somebody at ease or reassure them. The most challenging part is obviously hearing first-hand the difficulties people are going through, the struggles and the losses they have experienced.”

“When people call us, I feel we do make a difference not only do we answer their questions or point them towards our services that are there to help, but we offer that listening ear so they can off-load their fears, their anger, or their frustrations. We let them know that we are there for them to offer support at any point throughout their cancer experience. We let them know they’re never on their own.”

For Edel, she wants people to know that “the Irish Cancer Society is there to help educate, and support cancer patients, their family and friends through cancer. But we’re also a voice that advocates for cancer patients at a local and national level and don’t shy away from fighting for what’s important to cancer patients.”

To speak to one of our trained cancer nurses to seek confidential advice and support, please call our freephone Support Line at 1800 200 700