Record numbers of cancer survivors attend Irish Cancer Society National Conference for Cancer Survivorship
Record numbers of cancer survivors have today attended the Irish Cancer Society National Conference for Cancer Survivorship. To mark its 50th Anniversary, the Irish Cancer Society is holding a milestone conference entitled "Living Well with Cancer", bringing together over 800 cancer survivors for the first time. The two day event, which is the first of its kind by the Society, is taking place in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and is kindly supported by Roche.
With over 60 per cent of people in Ireland now surviving cancer for five years or longer, the Society’s conference will aim to address the needs of the growing numbers of cancer survivors who are looking to access vital information and support around the effects of a cancer diagnosis. The survival rates for those diagnosed with cancer in Ireland have greatly improved in recent years: Between 1994 and 1999, five year survival rates in Irish females were 52 per cent compared to 61.5 per cent between 2005 and 2009*. Increases in male survival rates have been even larger with five year survival at 42 per cent from 1994 to 1999 compared to 60 per cent between 2005 and 2009**.
The Irish Cancer Society National Conference for Cancer Survivorship features practical information on treatment advances, dealing with fatigue, exercise and diet as well as looking at the emotional and psychological effects of cancer. There are also separate tracks for healthcare professionals and affiliated cancer support groups from around the country.
This is the first time the Society has held a Survivorship Conference of this size, bringing together it smaller survivorship events to mark the Society’s 50th year. Survivors of all types of cancers from all over Ireland were today attending this landmark event.
Olwyn Ryan, Patient Support Services Manager at the Irish Cancer Society said: “We are delighted to welcome such high numbers of cancer survivors to this empowering conference for cancer survivorship. Today we are talking about the physical side effects of treatment which often last long after the cancer has been beaten and we’re highlighting the many psychological and emotional challenges which cancer survivors face every day. While cancer survival rates are improving, we need to recognise the issues which cancer patients can be left with after the illness itself has gone.
"It is hoped that by enabling survivors to engage with each other as well as with Irish and International experts in the field of cancer who are attending, cancer survivors and their families can learn new mechanisms of living after cancer.”
