Ireland is stepping up its game in the fight against lung cancer with a historic new research program.
This six-year initiative, funded with a €4.9-million-euro contribution from the Irish Cancer Society, was announced on Wednesday. Multiple sources have confirmed that it is the nation’s largest single investment to combat the disease of all time.
The Beaumont Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Cancer Centre will be leading the “Beaumont RCSI Irish Cancer Society Lung Outreach Programme.”
It will focus on early detection and efficacious treatment measures. Examining former smokers at high risk will be a top priority. Blood biopsies will be utilized on patients who have been diagnosed to help determine which treatment measures will be most impactful.
“We are confident this pilot programme will save lives by detecting cancer early,” Irish Cancer Society chief executive Averil Power said in a statement.
The new program reveal comes two days before the start of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It will prioritize north Dublin and counties in the country’s North East region. People aged 55 to 74 will be the main focus of the initiative. The Irish Cancer Society says screening smokers or former smokers in that demographic annually can cut lung cancer fatalities by 20 per cent.
“By combining the expertise of clinicians and scientists at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre with vital support from the Irish Cancer Society, we will not only detect lung cancer earlier but also deliver more personalised and effective treatments,” Beaumont RCSI oncologist, Jarushka Naidoo, said.
Congrats to the inspirational @DrJNaidoo and colleagues at @CancerCentreIre for this fantastic new programme in the lung cancer – looking forward to seeing the outcomes from this important work @IrishCancerSoc @AlCRIproject @hseNCCP @Researchirel @hea_irl https://t.co/DkqijjDIL0
— Liam Gallagher (@WaterfordMafia) October 30, 2024
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Nearly 3,000 are diagnosed in Ireland annually
The disease variation is the top killer in the country and the world abroad.
Naidoo says the lung health checks being completed through the program will inherently be more rigorous and difficult than other cancer screening programs.
“They’re a little bit more complicated,” she explained in an interview with RTÉ. “They incorporate a breath test, usually some advice around smoking cessation and lifestyle advice and they end with a CT scan.”
In recent days, breath tests have proved to be a worthwhile means of testing for the disease in Ireland, the U.S. and elsewhere. Companies and organizations excelling with their development and deployment include Breath Diagnostics Inc. and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Ireland has the second-highest rate of lung cancer deaths among the European Union’s member states, according to recent data. Hungary has the most.
rowan@mugglehead.com
