RTE Newscaster Sharon Ní Bheoláin lends her support to launch the Irish Cancer Society's National Conference for Cancer Survivorship with four year old Anna Barry from Dalkey.

The Irish Cancer Society will hold a free conference for cancer survivors on Friday and Saturday March 2nd and 3rd at the Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. The annual conference, which is in its 19th year, is an opportunity for cancer survivors all across Ireland to get together and share information and support on all aspects of a cancer diagnosis, including treatment and aftercare.

 The theme of the 2012 conference is "Living Well with Cancer" and the aim is to help people with cancer deal better with the life changing implications such a diagnosis brings. The two day programme includes practical information on treatment advances, dealing with fatigue, exercise & diet as well as dealing with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

This year’s keynote speakers include; Dr. Brian Bird, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Cork; Ms. Natalie Doyle, Nurse Consultant, Royal Marsden Hospital, London; Dr. Maureen Gaffney, Prof. of Psychology, UCD and Mr. Padraig O’Ceidigh, Entrepreneur.

Olwyn Ryan, Patient Support Groups Manager Irish Cancer Society said, “Life with and after cancer means making huge adjustments both physically and emotionally. Learning to recognise and acknowledge the changes can be stressful. The aim of this unique conference is to identify the issues and support patients and those close to them to make the necessary adjustments in order to live as well as they can following a diagnosis.”

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Picture: Bowel cancer survivor and Irish Cancer Society volunteer Art Cosgrove and his four year old granddaughter, Anna Barry.

“Delegates will be offered the opportunity to engage with experts in the field of cancer with a particular emphasis on psycho-social adjustment and keeping well into the future. Bringing survivors together so that they may befriend, help and support each other is a powerful way of improving the lives of those living with cancer.”