South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has asked Health Minister Edwin Poots to assist in providing information about the incidence of cancers in South Down.
The Review of South Down Cancer diagnoses will be undertaken by NI Cancer Registry and the Health & Social Care Research & Development Fund.
Ms Ritchie said: “Following various representations from members of the community on the need to identify the incidences of various types of cancers in South Down, if certain types of cancers are prevalent in South Down, and if so, the urgent need to research into the reasons why, I made representations directly to the Minister for Health.
“Minister Edwin Poots has responded by confirming that in response to my request, the Director of the NI Cancer Registry will now liaise with the Director of the Heath & Social Care Research & Development Fund to review data on the types of cancers diagnosed in South Down.
“Further to this, should their findings indicate that further research or scrutiny is needed the Minister has given an undertaking that the necessary resources will be made available to undertake this work. “Nearly every family in South Down has been touched by cancer at some time and in many cases those diagnosed, and their families, have a firm belief that they are part of a growing number of people in the community with soft tissue cancers, among others groups of diagnoses. It is vital that we do everything possible to understand cancer and if there are any ways in which we can have a positive impact on beating cancer, whether it be through genetic or environmental factors we need to ensure that this work is undertaken.”
Ms Ritchie added: “I very much welcome this review that will be undertaken and I look forward to what I hope will be informative outcomes that will lead to a better understanding of cancer, its causes and its impacts on the community in South Down. I would also hope that such research and subsequent evidence base will lead to medical solutions.”
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