End to specialist aftercare for breast cancer patients at MUH highlighted

A Sinn Féin local election candidate has urged Mayo University Hospital to restore a specialist aftercare treatment service for breast cancer patients after the retirement of a physiotherapist who offered the service.

Úna Morris, who is running in the Ballina area, said she was recently contacted by a breast cancer survivor who had been receiving specialist lymphoedema physiotherapy at MUH for the last number of years.

Lymphoedema is a long-term swelling caused by a build-up of fluid in the body’s tissue and can develop if lymph nodes have been removed during surgery or damaged by radiotherapy. Early treatment and referral to a specialist is advised.

Ms Morris said the physiotherapist who offered this service has now retired and the HSE are not planning to replace the expertise, leading to the end of this care in Mayo.

“The HSE are recruiting a new manager but this specialist lymphoedema therapy will not be part of the skill set required for the role.

“Patients presenting at MUH for post-surgery lymphoedema physiotherapy must be able to continue accessing this service.

She said that according to the National Cancer Control Programme, more than 3,400 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland annually, a large number of whom will go on to develop lymphoedema.

“It is vital that MUH provide this service to breast cancer survivors on an ongoing basis, whether as part of the skill set of the new physiotherapy manager, or by hiring a lymphoedema physio specialist,” added Ms Morris.