Thanks to you, Cork’s 96fm Giving for Living Radiothon makes change happen here in Cork and ensures those dealing with cancer get the care they deserve right on their doorstep.

Mercy Hospital Foundation:

Funds raised from Radiothon in 2022 contributed to the following:

Funds raised this year will help with the following:

• Continued support of our free Psycho-Oncology Service which is funded by public donations.
• Re-establish our Upper GI Patient Support Group after it was put on hold due to these are monthly meetings offering patients professional and peer support.
• Patient Assistance Fund to offer financial aid to patients who may be experiencing short-term financial difficulties as a result of their cancer diagnosis.
• Continue to fund the ‘A Guide to Chemotherapy’ booklet. This is given to new cancer patients before they attend St. Bernadette’s Oncology Ward & St. Therese’s Oncology Day Unit for their first course of Chemotherapy. It offers an overview of chemotherapy, information on how the treatment works, when and how it’s given and possible side effects. It provides advice on how to cope with the physical and emotional consequences, and facilities and services for cancer patients at the hospital.
• Supporting the Leukaemia Unit/Safari Unit to help make our patients feel more at home.
• Support Oncology Nurse Specialists with specialist courses and training to learn new skills and knowledge.

Marymount University Hospital and Hospice:

Funds raised in 2022 contributed to the following:

Funds raised this year will help with the following:

• Chairs & cushions as recommended by our brand-new Occupational therapy dept which will foster a further sense of support as patients day-to-day needs and requirements are catered to.
• An upgrade of ward sitting rooms in Specialist Palliative care wing which will ensure a relaxing environment for those who we have the privilege of caring for and visitors alike – creating a vital sense of home.
• Replacement commodes, shower chairs, falls sensor mats and alarms to continue to uphold high levels of comfort, hygiene and safety in place that forms an integral part of our care.

Cork University Hospital:

Funds raised from Radiothon in 2022 contributed to the following:

CUH Charity has purchased vital robotic surgery equipment including a surgical robot and a specialised surgical table, at the cost of over €3.2million.The Da Vinci Xi Robotic System will provide a number of benefits to cancer patients over conventional surgery including:

Funds raised this year will help with the following:

• CUH Charity aim to purchase HIPEC Machine for Cork University Hospital.
• HIPEC is a procedure that improves the absorption of chemotherapy for patients with colorectal, appendiceal or ovarian cancers.
• During surgery, an automated machine is used which continuously doses the patient’s abdomen with chemotherapy.
• HIPEC is currently only available in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, so all patients requiring such treatment must first be referred and make several trips up to Dublin. This is onerous and a major inconvenience for them and their families during this extremely stressful time.
• Funds raised through Radiothon will support the purchase of a machine to deliver lifesaving HIPEC treatment at CUH/CUMH.
• The ability of CUH/CUMH to provide and deliver a HIPEC programme would establish itself as a major player in cancer care delivery globally.

Breakthrough Cancer Research:

Funds raised from Radiothon in 2022 contributed to the following:

• A new study monitoring for potential earlier intervention in patients with lymphoedema before symptoms present in order to improve quality of life.  Lymphoedema is a common complication for patients with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma and genitourinary cancers.
• Support a research study looking at alternative less invasive ways to bone marrow biopsies, to monitor minimal residual disease in Multiple Myeloma patients, and identify cells left post treatment in order to respond quicker.

Funds raised this year will help with the following:

• Provide funding for a clinical fellowship project between UCC and CUH/MUH which aims to advance the personalisation of treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer.  The team with International collaborators are developing tools which will maximise treatment efficacy while also minimising treatment-related side effects.
• Provide funding for the development and delivery of a patient info hub with evidence based information on lower survival cancers including, signs and symptoms, prognosis, disease stages and types of treatment.
• Fund research to understand the role of newly identified genes involved in the death, survival or resistance of oesophageal cancer to drug treatment, in order to use that new knowledge to find targets to develop better, smarter treatment approaches.

Cork Arc Cancer Support House:

Funds raised from Radiothon in 2021 contributed to the following:

• Specialist Nurse support for cancer patients to manage the side effects and impacts of cancer, including the heightened anxiety and isolation during the pandemic.
• One to one support, group support and counselling for families who lost a loved one to cancer.  Losing a loved one to cancer is never easy. Covid-19 has added more heart ache and isolation for the bereaved.
• Yoga, T’ai Chi and an Exercise Programme for cancer patients to help build and maintain physical well-being and improved mental health.
• Training and upskilling Volunteers in our new way of working during the pandemic and delivering our services in a safe way for our patients and their loved ones as we re-opened and introduced more and more services delivery face to face.
• Delivery of hybrid services, virtual and in person

Funds raised this year will help with the following:

• Radiothon helps us to provide experienced Oncology Nurse support for cancer patients struggling with the psychological, physical and emotional impacts of their diagnosis.
• Radiothon helps us to support the families & loved ones of cancer patients to understand the enormous changes that are happening in their lives.  Research tells us that loved ones often experience greater anxiety and turmoil than the patient.
• The funds we receive from Radiothon will help us to provide exercise programmes such as pilates for women after breast cancer, pilates for men after prostate cancer, our Get Active programme for men and our walking group in Bantry.  Physical exercise is key to regaining and maintaining health and wellness, and it helps reduce the incidence of recurrence by 33% in some cancers. Mental health is also improved with exercise.
• Radiothon will be key in sustaining our on line supports of counselling, meditation & relaxation groups online.  Our expanded virtual services will continue to benefit cancer patients and their families far beyond this pandemic, allowing those who live in remote areas, or have difficulty with transport and those who do not feel well enough to make the journey to Cork ARC, avail of our support services from the comfort of their home.