Plans for the year ahead:

The ILCNG plan to continue to raise awareness around lung cancer this year. We are currently in the process of amending our constitution and plan to continue as a working group only for the foreseeable future. If you are interested in becoming a committee member of ILCNG we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact chairperson.ilcng@gmail.

HSE Guidelines for lung cancer referrals:

The HSE have issued GP referral guidelines for the lung cancer rapid access services in the eight designated centres; LUNG CANCER RAPID ACCESS

New factsheet on breathlessness:

The Irish Cancer Society has published a new factsheet on breathlessness. The factsheet is available on www.cancer.ie

Proposed HSE guidelines for lung cancer:

The HSE recently released guidelines on suspected lung cancer referrals for GPs. They are now working on suspected bowel and lung cancers. This will hopefully be available at the end of 2009. These guidelines will complement the excellent work done by the All Ireland lung cancer working group in 2004; http://www.imj.ie/Archive/Lung_Cancer_Guidelines.pdf

All Ireland conference:

The 5^th All Ireland lung cancer conference was held in Dublin in March. Dr Wilking from Sweden presented his findings from a recent European report examining patient access to cancer care. In Ireland patients are diagnosed at a later stage with up to 54% not receiving any active cancer treatment. Ireland had poor access to radiotherapy.

However Ireland rates well when compared to other countries for the number of patients who are offered lung surgery. It also does well in terms of national spending on the disease at €150 - €200 per capita.

The full report is available for download at www.comparatorsreports.se.

New mesothelioma factsheet:

The Irish cancer society has published a new factsheet on Mesothelioma and Asbestos. For copies phone the helpline on 1800 200 700 or download at; http://cancer.ie/pdf/Types_of_Cancer/Mesothelioma_Factsheet_04.pdf.