Consultant claims cancer strategy based on wrong assumption

THE BASIC assumption underlying the Government’s cancer strategy is wrong, according to a consultant oncologist. He said decisions were being made by people who were unwilling to listen to reasonable arguments.

Consultant Michael Martin, who is based at Sligo General Hospital (SGH), said research he has presented to the Minister and the HSE suggests that survival figures will not improve if breast cancer services are transferred from Sligo to University Hospital Galway.

He said the entire strategy was based on the “assumption” that poor outcomes for breast cancer were due to poor treatment in non-designated centres, but he argued that “scientific evidence” contradicted this.

Dr Martin said that he and his colleagues have made repeated submissions to the authorities but “no one is listening”.

As part of his study, Dr Martin used the SEER database in the US, where breast cancer survival figures are the best in the world, to compare outcomes in Sligo and the US from 2001 to 2007. He concluded that outcomes were as good in Sligo – better in the case of women with advanced breast cancer. He noted that survival figures for the country are poor, with Ireland ranking 21st out of 38 European countries.

Dr Martin said he was “disappointed” but unsurprised not to have received a response to repeated submissions. “We are in a position where Prof [Tom] Keane is determined to introduce these changes – but he will return to Canada and we will be left to pick up the pieces.”

Medical practitioners in the region, including Dr Martin, are preparing a joint policy document making the case for the retention of the Sligo service, but Dr Martin said he was not hopeful of its success.

Citing the American Cancer Society’s contention that improved treatment and early detection are key to reduced breast cancer deaths, Dr Martin said his study showed it was wrong to assume treatment would be better in the designated centres.

“My main concern is that, in the current economic climate, Galway would be completely under-resourced to deal with the influx of patients,” he said.