Busiest year for closing Cork cancer unit

A BREAST cancer unit destined for closure under Government plans to centralise treatment services has recorded its busiest year ever.

Under the National Cancer Control Programme, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) is set to lose its symptomatic breast cancer service to Cork University Hospital (CUH) — even though SIVUH is treating more patients. Figures released yesterday show during 2008, 412 newly diagnosed primary breast cancers were treated at SIVUH, of which 290 were diagnosed at the hospital’s breast care unit. SIVUH said it diagnosed 210 breast cancers in 2007, compared with 141 at CUH.

In addition, all 122 cancers diagnosed in the neighbouring BreastCheck building were referred to SIVUH.