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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Apr 1969

Vol. 239 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Detection of Cancer.

41.

asked the Minister for Health if he will comment on the possibility of establishing detection clinics for the diagnosing of cancer in its early stages as proposed by a leading Dublin medical director in the Irish Cancer Society's paper Conquest.

My Department has had under review for a considerable time the improvement of services aimed at the detection of cancer at the earliest possible stage. This has been facilitated by the operation at 24 centres throughout the country of clinics attended by consultants from the Dublin and Cork cancer units. It is open to any family doctor who wishes to have a consultant's opinion on possible early signs of cancer to refer his patient to one of these clinics. Arrangements have been made for training additional consultants; two will complete training this year and a third next year. This will make it possible to hold additional clinics.

I am advised that family doctors generally are well aware of the early signs of the disease. Many of them have attended symposia on this subject held at St. Luke's Hospital.

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