Working Life: While effective treatment is crucial, empathy is equally important

Paul Kelly, consultant radiation oncologist and medical director, Bon Secours Radiotherapy Centre and UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, Whitfield Hospital, Waterford.

Fri, 29 May, 2026 - 02:00

Catherine Shanahan

“I have always been fascinated by cancer because of its gravity and the ongoing need to improve treatments and outcomes. It’s an area that never stands still, and there’s always more to learn. I had a fear of being bored, so the constant evolution of treatments appealed to me. I wanted a field that would challenge me over a lifetime.

“On a human level, cancer touches almost every family. While effective treatment is crucial, empathy is equally important. Patients always remember who showed them compassion, even if they can’t recall every detail of their treatment.

“Historically, radiotherapy got bad press for significant long-term side effects. During my training at St Luke’s Hospital in Dublin, patients often had to remain in the hospital for weeks on end. These days, you can drop in for a session and return to normal routines afterwards.

Radiotherapy is also far more precise now. There’s less collateral damage to surrounding tissue and treatment schedules have shortened dramatically.

“In the past, some cancers required daily sessions over eight weeks. Now, treatment can be completed in five days. That’s one of the most striking changes I’ve witnessed.

“The once-standard digital rectal exam is playing a much smaller role in prostate cancer diagnosis nowadays as clinicians rely more on MRI scans and PSA testing — a blood test used to measure a protein produced by the prostate gland.

Dr Paul Kelly in the radiotherapy treatment room at Bon Secours Hospital in Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“Biopsy techniques have also changed. Procedures are now performed under anaesthetic.

“We’ve just started recruiting for INSPIRE, a major new all-island radiotherapy trial for men with localised prostate cancer, which patients who had come through treatment helped design. It aims to minimise urinary, bowel, and sexual side-effects and will use advanced scanning and highly targeted radiotherapy to better protect nearby healthy tissue.

“Treatment will be over five sessions instead of the standard 20. It’s sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland and supported by the Irish Research Radiation Oncology Group, and the plan is to recruit more than 136 patients across Ireland.

“I am a member of Cork Triathlon Club and run with St Finbarr’s AC. I completed the Boston Marathon last year in 2 hours 57 minutes, my best and only sporting achievement. I also volunteer as run director at Ballincollig parkrun.”