Patient Experience
26 September, 2022
This Friday September 30th join researchers based at the Trinity St James Cancer Institute for a series of talks around their life-changing and life-saving research! For details and registration (free and open to all) see here.
Full programme:
5 pm: DNA, but not as we know it! Aptamers in Lung Cancer: Dr. Brian Henderson
"All tumours contain an array of immune cells, some working to destroy the cancerous cells and some working to shield them. Aptamers are short, single-stranded DNA molecules that can bind to structures on the surface of cells, helping to identify them. There may be a rouge immune cell helping the tumor evade the constant surveillance of patrolling T-cells and Natural Killer cells. Using aptamers to isolate and interrogate this rouge cell type may improve responses to drug therapies.
5.20 pm: Improving management and outcomes of prostate cancer patients by employing novel biomarkers: Dr. Prerna Tewari
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in males worldwide. In Ireland, prostate cancer accounts for nearly 16% of all invasive cancers diagnosed annually. Patients with a suspect diagnosis are referred for a biopsy which is reviewed by a histopathologist and assigned a score to grade the aggressiveness of the tumour and guide the treatment of patients. Grading can be very subjective and in many cases the results can differ considerably between pathologists. Pathologists therefore need a robust set of prostate cancer biomarkers that can assist in obtaining a consistent tumour grade, and aid in confirming patient diagnosis and prognosis. Our group has identified three pathology specific biomarkers that generate a reliable test which can accurately predict the severity of disease as well as clinical outcome for prostate cancer patients.
5.40 pm Tea/Coffee Break
6 pm The development and feasibility of the Occupational Therapy-led 'Work and Cancer' programme for women living with and beyond breast cancer – Prof. Deirdre Connolly and Dr. Naomi Algeo
More than 43,750 women are living with and beyond breast cancer in Ireland and regularly report physical and psychological health difficulties that interfere with their ability to return to work. Collaborating with women with breast cancer, and those who provide supportive services to individuals living with cancer in Ireland, we co-designed an online Work and Cancer programme between 2018-2021. This programme was trialled in 2021 and aims to support women with breast cancer to manage the process of returning to work and learn strategies to manage post-treatment health-related difficulties
6.20 pm Establishing a Physiotherapy led Cancer Rehabilitation Service: Dr Grainne Sheill
Approximately 4,000 patients are diagnosed and/or treated for cancer in St. James’s Hospital annually. As the number of cancer survivors and the length of survival continue to increase, the long-term health issues related to cancer and its treatment are becoming more prevalent. Individuals that receive cancer treatments can experience physical limitations including cancer-related fatigue, decreased strength, pain, nerve damage, deconditioning, lymphoedema and pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr Grainne Sheill established the Trinity St James’s physiotherapy led cancer rehabilitation service in 2021. She will discuss the development of the rehabilitation service and ongoing research into the development of specialised exercise-based cancer rehabilitation programmes.