THE Irish Cancer
Society has today announced €100,000 in funding for
a major research project that will investigate ways
in which cancer survivors can live well after
treatment.
The innovative project will be conducted at
Letterkenny University Hospital and is funded by the
Irish Cancer Society with support from Relay For
Life Donegal.
The funds raised by this year’s Donegal Relay For
Life programme will go towards funding this "hugely
important patient-focused research project".
Letterkenny advanced onconoly nurse practitioner Dr
Janice Richmond said: “The number of people in
Ireland getting cancer is going up but the good news
is that more people are living longer after cancer
and even being cured.
“This research wants to see if we can improve how
people feel both physically and psychologically
after they have had cancer. This involves
approaching people who have had cancer and who are
overweight and asking them to take part in this
study so that we can help them improve their health.
Being overweight has been shown to negatively affect
survival rates following cancer as well as making
people feel less well overall." |
 |
|
Relay for Life participants get
events underway in Donegal. Photo: Mary Conway. |
The research will
involve 120 participants who will be attending the
cancer unit in the hospital. Half of these will be
given support and advice to improve their diet and
activity levels. They will be compared to another 60
people who will receive the standard follow-up care.
A wearable device will be used by all participants
to monitor diet, sleep and exercise patterns.
Relay For Life Donegal chairperson Robert O'Connor
said: “All of us on the Relay For Life Donegal
committee and our supporters in every corner of the
county are immensely proud that money raised through
Relay For Life Donegal is being used to directly
support a new innovative project that originated
from researchers at Letterkenny University
Hospital." The next Donegal Relay for Life will take
place on May 27 and May 28, 2017. |
