As part of the RCPI Public Meeting Series - Promoting a Healthy Nation, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) are pleased to announce a public meeting ‘Cancer Screening – Is it for you?’ which takes place on Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 6:30pm at RCPI, No.6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

With the annual incidence rate of new cancer cases set to double in the next 10 years, early diagnosis has become increasingly important in the fight against cancer in Ireland. While it is accepted that screening programmes can improve survival rates, many questions remain. Chaired by journalist and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary, this meeting aims to explain what population cancer screening is, its benefits, limitations and its role in detecting different cancers.

Speakers will provide information about how the current screening programmes (BreastCheck and CervicalCheck) work, the screening processes involved and the measures in place to ensure a quality assured service. Speakers will also discuss the rationale for and appropriateness of introducing new population based screening programmes to detect other types of cancers including colorectal and prostate cancer.

Speakers

• Dr Alan Smith, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, NCSS. Alan will, using colorectal (bowel) and prostate cancer, explain how population-based screening programmes are chosen and address the question ‘what about the guys?’

• Dr Patricia Fitzpatrick, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health & Population Science, University College Dublin and Consultant Epidemiologist, NCSS. Patricia will outline the evolution of population-based cancer screening methods – the science behind it, the potential benefits and the limitations of what it can achieve.

• Dr Ann O’Doherty, Consultant Radiologist, St Vincent's University Hospital and Clinical Director of BreastCheck – the BreastCheck programme. Ann will summarise how the BreastCheck programme works, the screening process, a woman’s experience of BreastCheck and the benefits of screening etc

• Dr Marian O’Reilly, Head of Cervical Screening, NCSS  – the CervicalCheck programme – Marian will summarise how CervicalCheck works, the process for a woman, timelines, benefits etc.

The meeting is open to all members of the public and there is no charge for attendance. However in order to cater for the expected numbers wishing to attend, members of the public are asked to apply for tickets by email to college@rcpi.ie or by telephone at (01) 863 9700.