Coolderry cancer researcher urges public to support Daffodil Day later this month

A Coolderry researcher, who has received funding from the Irish Cancer Society for an innovative new study, has urged the public to support Daffodil Day on Friday, March 25.

Dr Emer Guinan, now living in Tullamore, is using her funding award to develop the PERCs (Personalised Exercise Rehabiliation in Cancer Survivorship) Programme based in the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute at St James’s Hospital, which aims to help patients regain vital mobility after often very difficult cancer treatment.

Alongside a web-based resource that will provide patients with access to vital tools including exercise advice to help with post-treatment recovery and information on programmes based in the community, the PERCs programme will also see the introduction of an ‘exercise triage and referral system’ for participants who have been diagnosed and treated at St James’s.

It will see patients referred to a specialist physiotherapist for assessment and treatment where required, while others may be considered suitable for referral to community-based exercise programmes with further supportive information available through the website.

Patients will receive a follow-up phone call a week after their initial triaging, and will be reassessed on their progress after twelve weeks. Referrals for the programme are expected to commence from this April, and it is anticipated that 100 people will be invited to participate.

Dr Guinan, originally from Coolderry, believes this research project can perform an important role in assessing the level of need among patients for rehabilitation services, as well as the most effective way of directing them towards appropriate supports, all of which has been complicated by the impact of the pandemic on hospitals.

“Everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer should be referred for exercise rehabilitation, but access to these services is quite inconsistent at the moment. It’s about making the best use of those specialist services and making sure the patients who need them get them,” Dr Guinan said.

“Funding provided by the Irish Cancer Society is key to ensuring that ambitious cancer research projects can be supported to reach their full potential, and ultimately help to improve care and treatment for patients through their findings, so I would encourage people to show their support this Daffodil Day.”

On top of supporting life-changing cancer research, the Irish Cancer Society provides vital services to patients and their families in Offaly each year, including more than 300 counselling sessions, 340 nights of in-home Night Nursing for patients in their final days, and 200 Volunteer Driving lifts to get patients safely to and from their hospital appointments in 2021.

As Daffodil Day returns to the streets of Ireland for the first time since 2019 on March 25, the Irish Cancer Society is calling on the public to take part in any way they can to show solidarity and support for anyone affected by cancer.

People are being asked to take part and take back from cancer in any way they can this Daffodil Day. As well as donating at Cancer.ie and volunteering to help fundraise, they can purchase items from the Daffodil Day online shop and take part in a steps challenge.

Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: “ “Daffodil Day is our most important fundraising event of the year and the money raised goes directly to funding crucial supports including our Support Line, free counselling, our Night Nurses to provide end of life care, and financial support for families of children affected by cancer. Along with these services, the money raised on Daffodil Day allows us to support life-changing cancer research.”

For more information about Daffodil Day go to cancer.ie/DaffodilDay.