THE genetic screening aspect of cancer should be on the agenda of the Department of Health, said Dr Mary Henry (Ind).
Though inherited genetic disorders had traditionally been extremely important in terms of diagnosis and treatment, it was obvious now that malignant disease, which was a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our community, was commonly an acquired genetic disorder and might also represent a congenital susceptibility to cancer. In some individuals, current methods of diagnosis and treatment depended on the provision of laboratory and clinical services to support the kind of strategy to which she was referring.
In view of the great strides that had been made in Trinity College's Department of Genetics, she said, she hoped the Minister would be disposed to have it associated with this kind of research.
Screening people with inherited disposition to any disease, particularly to something like cancer, was a very emotive issue, but the growing possibilities of a cure by looking at the genetic lesion in the cell and dealing with it, led her to believe that it was necessary to incorporate genetic treatment into our cancer services.
Dr Henry was speaking in the debate on the Bill to help underpin the National Cancer Strategy announced recently by the Minister for Health.
The Bill, which was passed, is intended to facilitate the establishment of national screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer - and to enable the National Cancer Registry Board to continue to collect vital data on the disease.
Mr Michael Finneran (FF) complained that a major defect in the Bill was that it did not make provision for the current or future Ministers to introduce screening for prostate and other forms of cancer.
Responding to Mr Finneran's demand that the scope of the measure be broadened, Mr Noonan, undertook to examine how the Fianna Fail spokesman's view could be taken on board. This might be done by including the words "any cancer screening programmes authorised by the Minister", he suggested.
Mr Noonan said he would have the matter looked at before the Bill went to the Dail.