A Waterford Consultant agrees with the Taoiseach's statement that there will be a frightening level of delayed cancer diagnoses next year.
Brian Creedon, Consultant Palliative Medicine Physician at UHW, told Déise Today that at the start of the pandemic, as our health services were preparing for the worst, our hospitals were much quieter.
Because of this less cancers were diagnosed but Brian said he doesn't believe there was less cancer there.
"Unfortunately some of those cancers are more progressed because there was less access to health care during the pandemic," he said.
Brain says nobody is to blame for this but that if someone does have symptoms their GP should be their first port of call as there is a system in place to fast track care.
'Rapid Access' is measured in terms of days and short weeks rather than months.
This is because GP's prioritise cancer related queries.
Factors that should be impacting your chances of getting cancer include alcohol consumption, diet, weight, and the amount you exercise.
Participating in the national cancer screening programmes can help in an early diagnoses.
Vaccines, sun protection, and reducing or stopping smoking can lesser the chance of cancer.
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