During your treatment for bowel cancer, you will come across a variety of medical and other professionals who will provide you with care, support and advice. Read about what they do and how you can access their services below.

On this page you will find information on :

• Clinical Nurses
• Oncology Liason Nurse
• Stoma Therapists and Nurses
• Psycho-onocogist
• Where go to find complimentary services
• Cancer Support Centres

Specialist surgeons

Surgical oncologists are surgeons who devote most of their time to the study and treatment of malignant tumours. They have the necessary knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to perform standard and extraordinary surgical procedures needed for people with cancer.

Surgical oncologists can also diagnose tumours accurately and tell the difference between benign and cancerous tumours. They understand radiation oncology, medical oncology, and haematology.

Clinical Nurse Specialists

In ideal circumstances, Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS):

• Give you information about the disease and side effects;
• Give you emotional support;
• Help you make decisions;
• Assess your fitness for starting and maintaining treatment;
• Are part of the multidisciplinary team looking after you;
• Organise transport, accommodation and funding of these if you need it; and
• Are always available to you and your families.

Oncology Liaison Nurses

The role of the Oncology Liaison Nurse is to meet the needs of people with cancer including:

• Psychological;
• Emotional; and
• Information

They work with you in the:

• Inpatient oncology unit;
• Oncology day unit; and
• Throughout the hospital with people who are referred to the oncology service through a consultant.

Oncology Liaison Nurses also provide support to the family and significant others, through listening, problem solving, and education. They provide outreach support to patients at home and help patients who need referral to specialist services.

Stoma therapists and nurses

The stoma therapist is responsible for helping you adjust to living with either a permanent or temporary stoma:

• A colostomy;
• Ileostomy; or
• Urostomy

Your stoma therapist or nurse will show you how to care for your stoma and the skin around it. A number of different protective pastes, membranes and powders are available. Your stoma therapist or nurse will show you how to use these, and what to do if your skin becomes damaged or sore.

The role of the stoma therapist or nurse includes:

• Pre-operative counselling;
• Immediate post-operative care and education; and
• Follow-up assessment and counselling after you are discharged from hospital.

Community Nurses

Your Community Nurse may come to your home to help with wound care and other aspects of your cancer treatment.

Psycho-oncologists

The psycho-oncology service, is usually part of the psychological medicine service which aims to provide expert, compassionate care to patients with cancer who are attending the hospital. It aims to:

• Recognise psychological distress early;
• Deliver best practice in terms of interventions; and
• Promote psychological well-being.

This service is available in some of the larger hospitals:

• During your diagnosis; and
• Through treatment and recovery.

This service includes interventions and expertise ranging from psycho-education and self-directed learning to specific interventions. These interventions may be provided by:

• Senior Clinical Nurse Specialists;
• Principal Clinical Psychologists; and sometimes
• Consultant Psychiatrists.

Where to go for complementary therapy

When you are treated in hospital for cancer you receive what we call ‘standard medical treatment’. Complementary treatments can be given along with standard treatment, but it is extremely important to make sure you have discussed the possibility with your oncologist or nurse before you plan this kind of therapy.

Many people find some of these therapies very helpful during their illness. They may help you to cope better with some of the physical side-effects of cancer and the distressing emotions that cancer can raise. Some therapies like these can also focus on spiritual healing. These are examples of different types of complementary therapies:

• Acupuncture;
• Aromatherapy;
• Gentle massage;
• Hypnotherapy;
• Meditation;
• Music, art and dance therapy;
• Nutrition therapy;
• Reflexology;
• Relaxation;
• Shiatsu;
• Visualisation; and
• Yoga

If you are interested in any of these complementary therapies, do speak to your oncologist first. Many of these therapies will be on offer in your local cancer support centres.

Alternatively, you can speak to your GP who can provide a contact for you. You will very likely need a supporting letter from your oncologist to receive this treatment. You will also receive a full assessment from a health professional at the support centre to make sure you are getting the right type of therapy for you. See a list of cancer support centres at the end of this section.

Counselling organisations

Coping with a diagnosis of cancer can be very difficult and very stressful on you and your family. A cancer diagnosis will change how you think about things and life itself will change.

Sometimes it is hard to come to terms with your diagnosis and you and your family will experience some reactions which are very common and normal, these emotions may include:

• Shock and disbelief;
• Denial;
• Withdrawal and isolation;
• Fear of dying;
• Anger;
• Loss of control;
• Resentment;
• Sorrow and sadness; and
• Blame and guilt.

It may be difficult for you to come to terms with these feelings and emotions. You may even find it difficult to talk to close friends or relatives. It is therefore important for you to recognise this and ask for help. Counselling can provide you with the emotional support you need in a professional and confidential place.

If you feel that counselling is something you or a member of your family may need, do speak to your oncologist first. There are many qualified counsellors available in your local cancer support centres. Alternatively you can speak to your GP who can provide a contact for you.

You or any member of your family will receive a full assessment from a health professional or counsellor at the support centre to make sure you are getting the right type of support for you and your family.

Designated Cancer Centres and cancer support centres

Cancer treatment works best when the treatment team deals with large numbers of cases. This is why cancer care is mainly delivered in eight hospitals around Ireland. These hospitals can provide very specialised care for your type of cancer.

Below are the contact details for these Designated Cancer Centres; and for cancer support centres around the country.

Area	Cancer Centre	Phone	Website
Dublin North East	Beaumont University Hospital	Main Switch 01 809 3000	www.beaumont.ie/oncology
Dublin East	Mater University Hospital	Oncology: 01 803 4447	www.mater.ie
	St Vincent’s University Hospital	Main Switch 01 221 4000	www.stvincents.ie http://www.colorectal.ie/ColorectalCancer.html#
Dublin Midlands	St James’s University Hospital	Main Switch 01 410 3000, Stoma Care 01 410 3899	http://www.stjames.ie/
South/Southwest	Cork University Hospital	Main Switch 021 492 2000	http://www.cuh.hse.ie/
	Waterford Regional Hospital	Main Switch 051 848 000	http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/about/Waterford_Regional_Hospital.html
West/Northwest	Galway University Hospital	Main Switch 091 524 222	http://www.saolta.ie/uhg
	Satellite: Letterkenny General Hospital	Main switch 074 912 5888	www.hse.ie/go/LGH
Midwest	University Hospital Limerick	Main switch 061 301 111	www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/3/hospitals/ulh/

 

Cancer Support Centres

Name	Address	Phone	Email
Leinster
ARC House	65 Eccles Street, Dublin 7	01 830 7333	[email protected]
Arklow Cancer Support Centre	25 Kings Hill, Arklow, Wicklow	085 110 0066	[email protected]
Athlone Breast Cancer Support Group	C/O Cancer Support Sanctuary, LARCC, Coole Road, Multyfarnham, Mullingar, Westmeath	1850 719 719/044 937 1971	[email protected]
Balbriggan Cancer Support Group	Unit 23 Balbriggan Industrial Park, Harry Reynolds Rd, Balbriggan, Dublin	01 841 0116 / 087 353 2872	[email protected]
Balbriggan Cancer Support Group	Unit 23 Balbriggan Industrial Park, Harry Reynolds Rd, Balbriggan, Dublin	01 841 0116 / 087 353 2872	[email protected]
Brain Tumour Support Group	Medical Social Work Department, St Luke’s Hospital, Highfield Rd, Rathgar, Dublin 6	01 406 5163	[email protected]
Cois Nore – Kilkenny Cancer Support Centre	Walkin Street, Kilkenny	056 775 2222	[email protected]
Canteen Ireland	Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin	01 8722012	[email protected]
Cara Cancer Support Centre	7 Williamson Place, Dundalk, Louth	087 395 5335	[email protected]
Dochas Offaly Cancer Support	Teach Dóchas, Offaly Street, Tullamore, Offaly	057 9328268	[email protected]
Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre	George’s Street, Drogheda, Louth	041 9805100	[email protected]
Greystones Cancer Support	La Touche Place, Greystones, Wicklow	01 2871601	[email protected]
Hope Cancer Support Centre	22 Upper Weafer Street, Enniscorthy, Wexford	053 923 8555	[email protected]
Midland Area Cancer Support Centre	The LARCC Cancer Centre, Coole Road, Multyfarnham, Mullingar, Co Westmeath	044 9371971
Purple House Cancer Support Bray	Aubrey Court, Parnell Road, Bray, Wicklow	01 286 6966	[email protected]
Tallaght Cancer Support Group	Trustus House, 1-2 Main Street Tallaght, Tallaght, Dublin 24	086 4002736	[email protected]
The Cuisle Centre	Cancer Support Service, Block Road, Portlaoise, Laois	057 868 1492	[email protected]
Wicklow Cancer Support Centre	Unit 2 First Floor, Rear of Butlers Medical Hall Pharmacy, Abbey St, Wicklow	0404 32696/089 241 8167	[email protected]
Connaught
Athenry Cancer Care	Social Service Centre, Athenry, Galway	091 844319 / 087 4128080	[email protected]
Ballinasloe Cancer Support Centre	Main Street, Ballinasloe, Galway	090 9645574	[email protected]
Cara Iorrais Cancer Support Centre	2 Church Street, Belmullet, Mayo	097 20590	[email protected]
Gort Cancer Support Group	Garrabeg, Gort, Galway	091 648 606 / 086 172 4500	[email protected]
Hand in Hand	Children’s Cancer Support Centre, Main Street, Oranmore, Galway	087 6600103	[email protected]
Mayo Cancer Support Association	Rock Rose House, 32 St Patrick’s Ave, Castlebar, Mayo	094 9038407	[email protected]
Gort Cancer Support Group	Garrabeg, Gort, Galway	091 648 606 / 086 172 4500	[email protected]
Sligo Cancer Support Centre	44 Wine Street, Sligo, Sligo	071 9170399	[email protected]
Tuam Cancer Care Centre	Cricket Court, Dunmore Rd, Tuam, Galway	093 28522	[email protected]
East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support Centre	Le Cheile, Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway	090 964 2088	[email protected]
Clare Cancer Support Centre	Kilnamona, Ennis, Co Clare	1850 211 630	[email protected]
Munster
Midwestern Cancer Foundation	University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Limerick	061 482 900
CARE Cancer Support Centre	4 Wellington St, Clonmel, Tipperary	052 6182667	[email protected]
Circle of Friends	Tipperary Cancer Support Centre, Station Rd, Enterprize Centre, Co. Tipperary	0873412600	[email protected]
Cork Brain Tumour Support Group	Chemotherapy Day Unit, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork	087 146 5742
Kerry Cancer Support Group	Acorn Centre, Apt 124, Tralee Town Centre Apartments, Main St,Tralee, Kerry	066 7195560	[email protected]
Recovery Haven	5 Haig’s Terrace, Tralee, Kerry	066 7192122	[email protected]
Cork ARC Cancer Support House	Cliffdale, 5 O’Donovan Rossa Road, Cork	021 427 6688	[email protected]
South Eastern Cancer Foundation / The Solas Centre	The Solas Centre, Williamstown, Waterford	051 304 604	[email protected]
Suir Haven Cancer Support Centre	Clongour Road, Clongour, Thurles, Tipperary	0504 21197	[email protected]
Ulster
Donegal Action for Cancer Centre	Moneygreggan, Newtowncunningham, Lifford, Co. Donegal	074 912 8400	[email protected]
Cuan Cancer Social Support and Wellness Group	2nd Floor Cootehill Credit Union, 22-24 Market St, Cootehill, Cavan	086 4556632	[email protected]

 

Other resources

If you are undergoing treatment for bowel cancer, this website has information on topics such as:

• Coping with feelings and emotions after a cancer diagnosis 
• Coping with fatigue from cancer
• Coping with other side effects and sexuality issues 
• Advice on diet and nutrition during and after bowel cancer treatment 

You can also download a copy of the free booklet, ‘Bowel Cancer: From diagnosis to recovery‘ here.

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