Responding to Cancer

Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 in Cancer, Health

18 months into his new position as Director of Mission at Church Mission Society (CMS) Ireland Ian Smith was diagnosed with a brain tumour which set back his hopes and plans and forced him to reflect on the meaning of life and death.  He told Eileen Good about his original plans, how he responded to […]

SunSmart Campaign

Posted on 27. May, 2009 in Cancer, Health

Earlier this month the Irish Cancer Society launched their SunSmart Campaign.  Skin Cancer is by far the most common cancer in Ireland, but the good news is that you can greatly reduce your risk simply by being Sunsmart.  Miriam Gormally met with Rosemary Scott, Health Promotion Officer from the Irish Cancer Society, who explained what […]

World Day of the Sick

Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health

February 11th – the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – is set aside as a day to remember all those who are sick.  Loreto Sister Nan O’Mahony, is chairperson of the National Association of Hospital Chaplains and is based in the Marymount Hospice in Cork. Eileen Good asked her if she thought it was […]

Response to Terminal

Posted on 30. Apr, 2008 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Health, Hospice

Every day, all over the country, people await the result of hospital tests. It’s an anxious time, for the person themselves and their family.  For many the results are fine, but for others, sadly, they are not – and they trigger a range of emotions trying to take bad news on board. Eileen Good spoke […]

Daffodil Day

Posted on 20. Feb, 2008 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health, Hospice

Friday March 7th, we will see people all over the country gathering to sell and buy daffodils. The money raised from all these daffodils will help cancer patients throughout the country. Miriam Gormally met Isobel Thompson who suffered from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and who is now working as a volunteer for Daffodil Day. She began by […]

World Day of the Sick

Posted on 23. Jan, 2008 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health

The 11th of February is a day when the Church celebrates the fifteenth World Day of the Sick. It is a day to remember those who are suffering and those who live every day with illness. One person who has lived with serious illness is Catherine Thronton.  In November 1999, she was diagnosed with breast […]

Sick at Christmas

Posted on 28. Nov, 2007 in Cancer, Christmas, Health, Seasons of the Church Year

The topic of cancer has been in the news frequently, with constant reports on greater need for accurate testing and plans for more facilities.  However we sometimes forget the personal story, the human face that goes with the disease.  Catherine Thronton is one woman who had to deal with breast cancer.  She also had the […]

Sun Screen!

Posted on 11. Jul, 2007 in Cancer, Health

Many people in Ireland are not aware of the danger of skin cancer, but it is one of the most common cancers in this country. Of course with the mixed weather we’ve been having recently, people would be forgiven for thinking that there was no danger and so no need to put on sunscreen.  However […]

Hospice Care for All

Posted on 16. May, 2007 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Family, Health, Hospice

Some 30,000 people die each year in Ireland. While the vast majority of people want to die at home, two-thirds die in hospitals of one sort of another and 40% die in acute hospitals. The Irish Hospice Foundation has undertaken a hugely important project to introduce Hospice Principles into Hospital Practice.  Fr. Brian Nolan, a […]

World Day of the Sick Reflection

Posted on 07. Feb, 2007 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Health, Spirituality

Pope John Paul the second instituted World Day of Prayer for Sick People in 1992 when he set aside February 11, Feast of our Lady of Lourdes, as a day of prayer for the sick and for those who care for them. The day has continued to be celebrated annually. The theme for this year […]