Cancer rehab trial gets €100k boost after success
A pioneering cancer rehabilitation trial in Cork has received renewed funding from the Irish Cancer Society, with researchers hoping it will help make supportive rehabilitation a routine part of cancer care in Ireland.
A man in remission from stage-four prostate cancer credits a 12-week rehabilitation trial for transforming his life. The LIAM Mc Trial, launched in Cork in 2022, provided men with advanced prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers with physiotherapy, nursing, dietetic advice, and psychological support twice weekly. Developed by Cancer Research at UCC with €300,000 in funding from the Irish Cancer Society, the trial had a 56% participation rate.
John Bradley, 66, from Kanturk, Co Cork, who underwent radiotherapy, reported a 40% increase in muscle mass and a 90% return to his former self after the trial. Researchers are hopeful that the findings will lead to supportive rehabilitation becoming a standard part of cancer care in Ireland. The trial's success has been attributed to its small group setting and peer support, which fostered confidence and muscle strength.
The renewed funding of €100,000 will enable researchers to conduct a deeper analysis of the trial's findings and explore ways to make the program more accessible.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
