Working Life: Detecting cancer early improves survival and quality of life

I wake up as my husband leaves for work. It’s his birthday today, so I wish him happy birthday before turning over for another half hour. While getting dressed, I hear my mum arriving. As working parents, we appreciate her support. My children creep in for a hug. Mum will give them breakfast and walk them to school. I rush for the bus. Mornings are crazy.

8.40am

I disembark one stop early to build exercise into my day. I grab coffee and eat breakfast (yoghurt/seeds/berries) at my desk. I work in the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), where we collaborate with partners to prevent and treat cancer.

11am

We have our Irish Cancer Prevention Network (ICPN) meeting. The ICPN is our collaboration with the Irish Cancer Society, the Marie Keating Foundation, Breakthrough Cancer Research, and the National Screening Service. Today, we discuss our 2025 objectives and upcoming webinar. To mark World Cancer Day, we are hosting a free public webinar, ‘Your cancer prevention questions answered,’ on February 4. It promises to be a very interesting session. Topics include healthy eating, skin protection, alcohol, and smoking/vaping.

12.15pm

I discuss a request from our Department of Health colleagues for a briefing document with my trainer, Dr Tríona McCarthy. Although I enjoy clinical medicine, I appreciate how public health medicine allows in-depth research, ensuring that evidence-based medicine guides us to improve population health.

1pm

I walk with colleagues to a nearby cafe. The NCCP’s friendly, collaborative environment makes it a great place to work.

3pm

I attend our early diagnosis meeting. Detecting cancer early improves survival and quality of life, and the NCCP has established a network of regional cancer prevention officers dedicated to delivering cancer prevention and awareness to communities. We are committed to supporting these essential colleagues.

7pm

My bus arrives in Mullingar. I extend my walk home via the supermarket to pick up a cake. My husband’s not the biggest cake fan but the kids love singing ‘Happy Birthday’. What they lack in melody, they make up for with enthusiasm.

• To mark World Cancer Day, the NCCP is inviting everyone to join the free public health webinar to learn how to reduce their risk of cancer — ‘Your cancer prevention questions answered’ will take place on Tuesday, February 4, from noon to 1:15pm.