Averil Power: Ireland’s largest ever investment in lung cancer
Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“€4.9 million investment by the Irish Cancer Society to pilot lung cancer screening in Ireland.
Lung cancer kills more Irish people than any other cancer, mainly because it is usually diagnosed late when it is difficult to treat. It doesn’t have to be this way. When caught early, surgery is often the only treatment required and 9 out of 10 people will survive.
Other countries are picking up lung cancers earlier through free lung health checks for people at greatest risk. The Irish Cancer Society wants Irish people to have the same opportunity. That’s why we are announcing Ireland’s largest ever investment in lung cancer today, in partnership with Beaumont Hospital Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Cancer Centre.
Under our partnership, Prof Jarushka Naidoo and her team at BRCSI will pilot a free lung health check for people at high risk of lung cancer in North Dublin and Louth.
The Irish Cancer Society is confident this will not only save lives among pilot participants but it will also lead in time to a free national lung check programme for everyone at high risk of lung cancer. Just as the Society’s initial €1 million investment in bowel screening led to Ireland’s national bowel screening programme.
Our funding will also enable Jarushka and her team to develop improved primary care pathways for lung cancer and rapid blood tests to help people access tailored treatments earlier. They will also test immunotherapies to treat KRAS-mutant lung cancer, which is common in Ireland but particularly challenging to treat.
In addition, we will be working with Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre to enhance access to the Society’s free advice, counselling, peer support, transport and other services. Our services are available to anyone in Ireland who needs them.
This partnership will develop a new model of care, through which our services are better integrated within the hospital’s clinical pathways. This should ensure no-one being treated for cancer at Beaumont hospital suffers because they didn’t know the Society could help, and develop a model for other hospitals to follow.
The Irish Cancer Society is delighted to announce this groundbreaking investment today and hugely grateful to all our donors and supporters for making it possible. Together, we are saving lives and improving the lives of people affected by cancer in Ireland.”
Averil Power is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Cancer Society and formerly served as CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland. As a former Senator and ministerial adviser, she has experience in the political process, leadership, communications and has effectively implemented specific public policy changes.
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