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Issue 5 December 2024

2024 Highlights

We are delighted that the ICPN members renewed their memorandum of understanding in 2024 and plan to continue to work together.

For World Cancer Day 2024, the Irish Cancer Prevention Network held a public webinar on how to reduce risk of and recognise the symptoms of, lung and bowel cancer. You can watch the recording of the webinar, using the following link: Recording of the full webinar

The ICPN published a NALA approved plain English ‘Reduce your Risk of Cancer’ leaflet. Download a copy here or order hardcopies from www.healthpromotion.ie

ICPN members delivered a range of community initiatives including

  • The Marie Keating Foundation  Our Schools Cancer Awareness Programme reached over 14,600 students during the 2023/2024 academic year, delivering vital education on cancer prevention and awareness. Our Nursing Outreach Service has supported more than 8,500 people across over 320 communities in Ireland so far in 2024, providing essential health information and support. Through our Corporate Wellness Programmes, we engaged with nearly 5,000 people in workplace settings, delivering both in-person and online sessions to a wide range of corporate audiences.
  • Irish Cancer Society: The Your Health Matters Roadshow, which aims to reduce people’s risk of cancer and improve early detection, attended 19 counties over 49 days in 2024. This nurse-led community outreach initiative is delivered in shopping centres in areas of most disadvantage. Close to 2000 people had a health consultation with a cancer nurse at the Roadshow and a further 27,000 people engaged with the information on screening, lifestyle advice and cancer symptoms.
  • The HSE National Screening Service designed and piloted a Community Champions programme. In 2024, 5 pilot sites were identified. A total of 40 people across the sites have been trained as Community Champions by the Health Promotion team in the National Screening Service.  These cover a range of workers from peer support workers, community health workers, migrant support workers, Roma support workers and health promotion staff.  The types of interventions that are currently being delivered in communities include, group education, one to one education and support, use of small media, reducing out of pocket expenses, reducing administrative barriers and reducing structural barriers.
  • The HSE National Cancer Control Programme worked with the regional Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officers – Cancer Prevention who delivered extensive engagement and education sessions on cancer risk reduction with 200 groups of HSE staff, community organisations and the public.
  • Breakthrough Cancer Research: Breakthrough Cancer Research marked a significant milestone in their collaboration with UCC celebrating five years of pioneering advancements in cancer research. The partnership has catalysed cutting-edge research and advanced clinical applications to benefit people with some of the most challenging and low-survival cancers, including ovarian, liver, lung, stomach, brain, oesophageal, and pancreatic cancers. Breakthrough are currently supporting over 165 cancer researchers.
  • SunSmart won Best Public Information Campaign. The HSE NCCP and Healthy Ireland won the award for the ‘Best Public Information Campaign’ for the SunSmart campaign. Judges highlighted the campaign “demonstrated well-identified objectives and audiences, strong research and hard-working execution”.

The annual ICPN symposium on cancer prevention research and initiatives in Ireland was held on October 9th, 2024. Watch the highlights of the day by clicking on the following link: Highlights of the day