Practical information
Helpful materials > Practical information and resources
On this page you can find the answers to 3 common questions many families dealing with cancer have regarding available resources and some practical information.
Following a cancer diagnosis, you are likely to meet with a wide range of health and social care professionals both in the hospital and in the community. Again, the services available may vary from region to region. Below you can find a description of different health care professionals who may assist with your care or provide you with information.
General practitioner (GP)
Your GP looks after your healthcare when you are at home. A GP works closely with other members of your care team. GPs can help you to make appointments with specialists and help with symptoms and side effects of the cancer and its treatment. They can also:
Help to answer your questions
Offer support and give advice to help you make decisions about your treatment
and care
If you like, they can talk with the members of your family, friends, etc.
Talk with you if you are unhappy with any aspect of your care
Help with the organization of home care
Question 1: Which care provider does what exactly?
Oncologist is a doctor who is an expert in the treatment of cancer.
Draws up a treatment plan in cooperation with other specialists
Conducts aftercare examination and arranges palliative care for patients
Radiologist is a medical specialist who uses X-ray images to determine whether a part of the body or an organ is unhealthy.
Radiotherapist is responsible for using radiation to treat cancer cells. Using radiation to destroy cancer cells in this way is called radiotherapy.
Hospital nurse helps with the delivery of your care and helps to guide your treatment by reporting to the doctors. They can also help if you have any questions about your medication, treatment or if you have any complaints about your treatment.
Home care nurse helps the person with cancer with day-to-day tasks such as personal hygiene, changing dressings or bandages or treating wounds and giving injections. They also provide social and emotional support to the person with cancer, their family and friends.
Medical consultant offers medical care, information and mental and emotional support and ensures continuity between your treatment and aftercare. This means that he/she:
is a point of contact for you and your family.
offers reception and counselling during or after the conversation with the doctor.
if necessary, clarifies necessary information from the attending doctor.
gives guidance and opinions on complaints during your sickness.
checks whether you might need contact with other care-providers such as a
social worker, dietician, psychologist and, if necessary, makes referrals.
gives information on patients’ associations, groups of fellow cancer patients
and other matters that are important to you.
Clinical Nurse Specialist is a highly qualified nurse who has an advanced level of knowledge and advanced clinical skills in a particular area of healthcare such as cancer care.
Psychologist supports you and your family throughout the cancer experience and its treatment. They will listen to your concerns and are prepared to help you find solutions and the strength to cope with the illness.
Social worker can provide you with information about getting practical support at home e.g., they can help you with financial issues, provide advice and support as well as help you to organise services to help with your practical care such as home helps, shopping and cleaning services.
Chaplain will provide a listening ear and provide you and your family with emotional and spiritual support.
Occupational therapist: teaches people to regain, improve and/or maintain their functioning in everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and remaining mobile.
Physiotherapists support cancer patients by helping to manage pain and by identifying the best ways to keep individual patients mobile and active.
Speech and language therapist are professionals who can help with any speech problems you may experience and can also help you if you are finding it difficult to chew or swallow.
Dietician provides advice about food and nutrition. This means that he/she:
Can check your diet, determine if your nutritional requirements are being met and, if necessary, will provide guidance to correct your food intake. This may include the use of supplements and adapting the types and textures of food you normally eat.
Give support and advice during outpatient treatment and during admission to
hospital.
Palliative home care team provide palliative care in the home environment of the patient and their loved ones.
Your healthcare team will try to work together to provide care that is suited to your unique needs. This means that they may share information on your treatment with one another to ensure that all your treatments complement each other.
You can consult with members of your healthcare team whenever you have questions. If you are unsure who to talk to about a particular question you may want to talk to your GP, they can offer advice or put you in touch with the relevant professional who can answer your queries.
Question 2: What support and resources are available?
Helplines
As you’re coming to terms with the diagnosis of cancer, you will have specific questions or may want to talk to an outsider. You might find these cancer helplines useful. The cancer nurses are experienced in supporting families dealing with cancer and can provide both information and emotional support.
Cancer Nurseline
With Cancer Nurseline you can call for a listening ear, expert advice or information about the scientific, medical, psychological and social aspects of cancer.
Call (Freephone): 1800 200 700 (Weekdays)
Online chat community: https://www.cancer.ie/community
Email to cancernurseline@irishcancer.ie
Freephone Careline
Family Carers Ireland offers a confidential, friendly and supportive careline for caregivers, you can discuss your concerns, or worries and also receive practice advice on a range of topics, including supports and services available in your local area.
Call (Freephone): 1800 24 07 24 (Monday – Friday 9:00am – 8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm)
Drop-in support centres
Daffodil Centres
Many find it a great comfort to be able to talk and share experiences with in person. Daffodil centres provide cancer information, support and advice in 13 locations nationwide. At each centre, you will find cancer nurses and trained volunteers on hand to answer your questions. You can find a confidential listening ear, or information about local support groups at each centre.
Find out more here: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-support/find-support/daffodil-centres https://www.mariekeating.ie/cancer-information/cancer-support-services-ireland/
On the webpage above you will find a list of cancer support centers around Ireland that offer free help.
CanTeen Ireland
Nationwide support group for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years which brings together young people who have been affected with cancer to meet in a relaxed, informal setting.
Phone: +353 18722012
Email: info@canteen.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanTeenIreland/
Caregivers Groups
It often helps to talk to people who share similar experiences to your own. Family Carers Ireland provides information for carers and runs carer groups nationwide. These groups meet regularly, usually once a month. Carers often use the time just to chat, to share coping strategies and local information. Guest speakers are sometimes invited to help answer questions or topics of interest to the carers. Wesbite: https://familycarers.ie/help-and-advice/carer-groups/
Freephone: 1800 24 07 24
Find your local centre here: https://familycarers.ie/help-and-advice/your-local-centre/
Online resources
www.cancer.ie
Website where patients with cancer and people in their environment can go to for all information about cancer (medical, psychosocial, contact with fellow sufferers, activities,)
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/patient/patlinks/
The HSE website provides more information about cancer services and support groups.
www.mariekeating.ie
The Marie Keating Foundation website provides information on cancer, cancer services and webinars for cancer patients and survivors. The webinar series covers topics such as diet and nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, managing stress etc.
Website: www.mariekeating.ie
More information about webinar series: www.mariekeating.ie/events Email: info@mariekeating.ie
Phone: 01 628 3726
Homecare
Being sick can mean that you can no longer do everything yourself or have no time for it. That is why you can appeal to various homecare organizations that can help you with all kinds of things such as doing groceries, domestic help, home nursing. Home Care Packages and Home Help Services are arranged via the HSE Local Health Office/Primary Care Teams and are supported by Public Health Nurse
and GPs. There are also private home care companies and nursing agencies that provide a care attendant service. You can find out more information here:
As patient and caregiver, you may both qualify for a number of financial benefits and certain services. You can also claim certain forms of leave through your employer.
Support for patients
Financial benefits & Services
To get advice/more information about your financial benefits and services available, you can contact your oncologist and/or social worker. You can also contact your local ICS (Irish Cancer Society) Daffodil Centre. At each centre, a trained nurse and volunteers can provide information about benefits and have other suggestions about finances.
You can also contact Citizens Information, who can advise on a range of benefits, entitlements, and application processes. Citizen Information can also assist in form filling etc. They can also advise on financial concerns you may have.
Alternatively, you can also contact MABS (Money, Advice and Budgeting Service), who can also provide financial advice and help with any financial concerns you may have.
Citizen Information services and MABS are available free of charge.
Contact details for the services
Daffodil Centre
Drop-in centres (& contact details for each centre): https://www.cancer.ie/cancer- information-and-support/cancer-support/find-support/daffodil-centres#locations Alternatively, you can speak with a cancer nurse on cancer nurseline (Freephone) 1800 200 700.
Citizen Information
Drop-in centres (nationwide): http://centres.citizensinformation.ie/ Helpline: 0761074000 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Callback service: citizensinformation.ie/callback
Money, Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)
Drop in Centres (Nationwide): https://www.mabs.ie/en/contact/ Helpline: 0761 07 2000 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 8pm)
Email: helpline@mabs.ie
Website: https://www.mabs.ie/en/
Incapacitated
Legally, you are not obliged to tell your employer you have cancer, but if you are unable to work due to the illness, you must inform your employer and your health insurance fund. This way you can claim a benefit to which you are entitled. The what, how and how much all depends on your work status (paid employment, self- employed, unemployment benefit, etc.). For more information you can talk to your oncologist and medical team.
Support for caregivers
Financial benefits & Services
The HSE provides health services and funds voluntary organisations to provide supports and services to caregivers. To find out more information about your financial rights, benefits and services as a caregiver, please contact your local primary care team.
More information about your financial rights and services available to you can be found on this HSE website: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/3/carerssupport/
Carer’s Leave
Carer’s leave allows employees to leave work temporarily to provide full-time care for someone who needs it. The minimum duration of leave is 13 weeks, the maximum duration is 104 weeks.
Carer’s leave from employment is unpaid but your job will be kept for when you return.
You may be able to receive a social welfare payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). If you have enough PRSI contributions, you may qualify for Carer’s Benefit. If you do not qualify for Carer’s Benefit, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, which is means-tested.
For further information about carer’s leave, including how to apply for carer’s leave, you can visit this Citizens Information website: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/carers_leave_from_employment.html