A vital new machine for early cancer diagnosis at CUH has been funded in part by two friends who beat breast cancer and have become charity stars.
The € 550,000 Ion Torrent Genexus sequencer can generate cancer profiles in 24 hours, eliminating the eight week wait for patients.
Now housed at Cork University Hospital, it is the first of its kind in Ireland, identifying DNA profiles of cancers which are then used to determine the best type of treatment to fight the disease.
Almost € 50,000 was raised during Cork Pink Week in 2019, hosted by friends Miriam Healy and Sylvia McHenry, who survived breast cancer.
Other patients in the midst of terrible cancer treatment gave cash to their consultants, asking to donate it to the main fundraising campaign.
"We wanted to raise awareness that breast cancer affects all ages and affects people under the age of 50," Miriam said.
“We met with CUH Charity and consultants at the hospital to find out what they needed and what could really benefit patients.
"After our first event at City Hall, we were able to contribute to the purchase of two high-resolution reporting workshop stations for advanced interpretation of mammograms."
In 2019, the friends launched Cork Pink Week, hosting a Business Breakfast and Pink Lunch at Collins Barracks, which raised funds for the new team.
“CUH has made us feel a part of the whole process on behalf of the people of Cork, who donate so generously to Cork Pink Week,” said Sylvia.
“The Ion Torrent Sequencer is a tangible benefit to the people of the region. It also allows people who have recovered to be tested to investigate the likelihood that their cancer will recur. "
Next-generation technology uses sequencing to help speed cancer testing, allowing patients to start their therapies and clinical trials earlier.
The machine, the most expensive piece of equipment purchased by CUH Charity, is used to identify the DNA sequence of a cancer, allowing consultants to initiate a treatment plan based on the cancer profile.
Previously, this profiling had to be done in the UK, and during Covid, it often took eight weeks to change the results.
These results can now be delivered within 24 hours by CUH, providing immense potential to improve quality of life and patient outcomes.
Incredible public support for CUH Charity's 18-month 'Pull Together' campaign ensured that the remaining funds were raised.
The Karen Fenton Ovarian Cancer Fund raised € 80,000 in memory of Karen Fenton, who spent her final weeks at CUH before her death in 2017 at age 43.
Mick McCourt, his family, friends and McAfee co-workers raised more than € 64,000 in memory of his wife Aileen, who passed away in 2018.
CUH Professor Seamus O'Reilly described the Ion Torrent sequencer as an "amazing buy" and thanked everyone who supported it.
“This equipment will really make a big difference for patients. The spirit of such events has been incredibly uplifting and morale boosting for all of us who are privileged to help cancer patients, ”he said.
For more details on how to support CUH Charity and enable you to invest more in advanced technology, see: cuhcharity.ie.
