CancerWise provides GPs and cancer specialists with a quarterly review of the latest developments in cancer care. Written by opinion leaders, the journal's vibrant mix of news, clinical reviews, abstracts and meeting reports provides the busy specialist and GP with a snapshot of the changing face of cancer care.

Editorial:

Recent highly publicised errors in breast cancer diagnosis in Ireland have led to enormous patient and family upset and lack of confidence in cancer services among these groups and the public. They come at a time of proposed significant changes in cancer care in Ireland and highlight significant vulnerabilities in the way cancer is treated in this country.

These errors however need to be put in context. A recent review on errors in cancer diagnosis has highlighted that 59% of ambulatory malpractice claims relate to diagnostic errors and that errors in cancer diagnosis were evident in 12% of all reviewed histology-cytology specimen pairs.

Preliminary data suggest that some missed and delayed diagnoses are preventable. The reviewed data on errors in breast cancer diagnosis are particularly relevant to recent events in Ireland, with reported rates of mammography error ranging from 5.2 to 75%. These issues are further compounded by welldocumented delays in access to investigations by general practitioners particularly in relation to public patients.

The analysis in the paper on preventable and non-preventable variables contributing to lung, breast and colon cancer diagnosis needs to be integrated into cancer strategies here.

Greater emphasis is needed in training schemes to highlight medical error, its prevention and management. Greater public and professional awareness will stem from such measures.

Dr Seamus O’Reilly MD PhD
Editor
Cork University Hospital

Download CancerWise Magazine, Spring 2008

PDF format, 1.6MB, 25Pages.

Volume 7 • Issue 1 • Spring 2008

Exploring the practice of obtaining written, informed consent from patients prior to chemotherapy: results of a phone survey of oncology units in southern Ireland
Targeted therapy for renal cell cancer: is it time to consider available options?
Risks and protective factors for colorectal cancer – facts and myths
Role of cervical screening during pregnancy and post-partum period

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Breast Cancer and Fertility booklet launched

I am delighted to inform all healthcare professionals of the launch of a new patient information booklet on ‘Breast Cancer and Fertility’. In the past, women who received treatment for breast cancer were rarely offered comprehensive information in relation to their fertility. This caused many women much distress as they faced the prospect of being infertile post treatment.

Marie Ennis (Europa Donna Ireland) was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30’s and she felt that the most upsetting part of her cancer journey was the lack of information that she was offered in relation to her fertility. In 2006, Marie contacted Dr Gill Gormley (Registrar in Medical Oncology) and myself to ask if we had any ideas as to how women could be helped in this situation.

After much thought and deliberation, we decided to write a patient information booklet on ‘Breast Cancer and Fertility’ and sought of the help of Dr Janice Walshe (Consultant Medical Oncologist, Tallaght Hospital), Mr Declan Keane (Senior Clinical Embryologist, Rotunda Hospital) and Mary Murray (Advanced Nurse Practitioner, St Vincent’s University Hospital), to ensure that the information in the booklet was of optimal standard.

Europa Donna Ireland kindly offered to sponsor the printing of the booklet and, after much hard work, it was completed and published. The booklet was launched during Breast Cancer Awareness month last October by Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children. The booklet will be available, free of charge, from Europa Donna Ireland, P.O. Box 6602, Dublin 8 or email edi@iol.ie in early 2008. .

We look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions regarding the information contained in the booklet.

Marie Lavin
IANO President.

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