Cancer, its prevention, diagnosis and treatment are a major challenge for our society.  Each year approximately 20,000 Irish people develop cancer and 7,500 die of the disease.  The second National Cancer Strategy ‘A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006’ advised that Ireland needs a comprehensive cancer control policy programme.

Cancer control aims to prevent cancer, cure cancer, and increase survival and quality of life for those who develop cancer, by converting the knowledge gained through research, surveillance and outcome evaluation into strategies and actions.

The 2006 National Cancer Strategy - recommended that Cancer Centres should be networked together in Managed Cancer Control Networks. The aim was to equip each of the HSE’s four regions with broad self sufficiency of services in relation to the more common forms of cancer.

Ireland's 8 Specialist Cancer Centres are now located and networked within each of the four HSE administration regions.   Successful Cancer Centre models internationally were examined as part of the process of designating the eight centres in this country.

• Read more about our 8 Regional Cancer Centres here.
• Read our frequently asked questions section to learn more about the NCCP and our services - FAQ's

• Read the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO)

• Read about Community Oncology
• Read and download publications and Reports

Each of the newly designated centres were required to meet the following criteria:

• Each Specialist Cancer Centre must serve a population of at least 500,000
• In the Irish context, each of the four HSE Regions should have broad self sufficiency in respect of the most common cancers
• Each HSE Region has two Cancer Centres in a Managed Cancer Control Network
• Rare and complex cancers should be treated by a subset of the eight cancer centres, consistent with evidence based practice and likely population incidence
• Centres are designated for the treatment of rare and complex cancers based on an analysis of existing patterns of care and pre existing resources within the limitations of these criteria
• Cancer Centres must be well supported by general medical and surgical infrastructure (including all general consultation services, pathology, lab-medicine and radiology/imaging as well as support services eg respiratory, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, nutrition, palliative care)
• Cancer Centres require availability of critical surgical subspecialty services to support cancer control activity
• Cancer Centres require availability of medical oncology/systematic therapy support – consultation, therapy, curative and palliative therapies, clinical trials, etc.
• Host hospitals must have the capacity to sustain a multi-disciplinary team environment, engaging health professionals across common clinical services and academic endeavours
• Cancer centres require host hospitals with an academic environment – availability of university and/or technical education facilities for education and specialty training for health professions
• Cancer centres require a research environment within the national network – availability of university facilities, research institutions and research infrastructure

NCCP Executives

• Dr Susan O'Reilly– Director
• Prof Arnold Hill – Deputy Director
• Prof Arnold Hill  - National Advisor – Surgical Oncology
• Dr Maccon Keane  - National Advisor – Medical Oncology
• Prof Donal Hollywood – National Advisor – Radiation Oncology
• Dr Marie Laffoy – Community Oncology Advisor
• Ms Mary Hynes – Cancer Network Manager (South)
• Mr Killian McGrane – Cancer Network Manager (East)
• Dr Mary Hynes – Cancer Network Manager (West)