Aid for Cancer Treatment

Making a Difference

Aid Cancer Treatment was founded by relatives of cancer patients in 1983 and thanks to the heroic work of the charity they kept Radiation Oncology services in Cork as in the early 1980s the plan was to centralise services to Dublin.

Aid Cancer Treatment’s singleness of purpose is patient care – anything that can contribute to greater patient care and treatment efficiency is of interest to us.

Over the past forty years Aid Cancer Treatment have funded the following to support cancer services in Cork University Hospital:

• A Simulator for planning of patient’s treatment

• Supported the staffing campaign for Simulator which eventually came about 4 years later.

• Part funded the first Linear Accelerator in Cork the GE unit. 1991

• Funded the upgrade of the treatment planning system which was in place in 1992

• Purchased the mould room, mould making addition to make electron cut outs and dedicated lead block for patient for better more accurate treatments for Electron therapies, better organ protection diseases like Hodgkin’s and NHL, Teratoma, Seminoma pts etc. 1993/4

• Microwaves to the wards to ensure lunches could be heated up.

• In late 1990s Aid Cancer Treatment campaigned to funds a new Linear Accelerator as part of a new development. They powerfully persuaded the Department of Health that if they paid for and installed 1 Linear Accelerator that the Department of Health would do a building and add a second Linear Accelerator. Building work started in 1999 and opened in 2001

• Funded the treatment contouring system for the new CT simulator 2002

• Purchased a new treatment planning system around about the same time to ensure brachytherapy planning 2001

• Funded an additional physicist for the Brachytherapy service for a year till this post was taken on by Southern Health Board in 2001

• Purchased some additional equipment for the relocated Chemo Day Unit 2001

• Contributed to the cost of the Cross site video conferencing system, that was located in the board room in 2002

• Supported the establishment of Brain Tumour Support group 2002/3

• Funded many of the specialist nurse’s courses

• Helped to secure the first Psycho Oncology Nurse post in Cork University Hospital

• Supported staff attendances at Radiotherapy conferences annually

• Funded the upgrade to patient rooms in Ward 2D 2006

• Supported the purchase and development of Mammography Services in Cork University Hospital in 2004/2005

• Purchased Mole Mapping Machine

• Funded syringe drivers for the hospital palliative care service

• Funded development of Family Rooms in Ward GB, Orchid Centre & Radiotherapy Unit

• Purchased comfortable seating for Orchid Centre, Dunmanway Day Unit

• Purchased Scopes for Colorectal Service

• Purchased Electric Beds for patients in Ward GB

• Purchased Information Booklets for the Radiation Oncology Service

• Purchased equipment for nipple tattooing for breast patients

• Developed DVD for Breast Reconstruction Patients

• Provided Art work on walls in the Orchid Centre

• Supported Various Research Projects over years

• Purchased software to develop Multidiscipline programme for Melanoma Tumour Group

• Purchased equipment for the Brachytherapy Service

• Purchased televisions for Wards and Waiting Rooms

• Supported Oncology Nursing Staff in attending specialist conferences