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UCC Cancer Research Team Wins Prestigious Irish Cancer Society Award
A collaborative team across Cancer Research @UCC, UCC’s School of Nursing & Midwifery and the Clinical Research Facility-UCC were honoured with the Irish Cancer Society Survivorship Project of the Year Award for their Linking You to Support and Advice (LYSA) study at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards, recognising their innovative approach to survivorship care for women recovering from cancer.
A Recognition of Excellence in Survivorship Research
The Irish Cancer Society introduced the Survivorship Project of the Year category this year to highlight outstanding contributions in cancer survivorship research. The LYSA study stood out for its focus on patient-centred, nurse-led supportive care for women recovering from breast and gynaecologic cancers.
Professor Roisin Connolly, Director of Cancer Research @UCC and lead investigator on the LYSA study, expressed her gratitude:
“We have grown greatly as a collaborative research team through receipt of the inaugural Irish Cancer Society Women’s Health Initiative grant in 2019. This award is a wonderful acknowledgment of years of dedication to developing meaningful supportive care interventions for patients.”
About the LYSA Study
Photo: Co PI Professor Josephine Hegarty of UCC School of Nursing and Midwifery
The LYSA study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of introducing a nurse-led survivorship clinic into routine post-treatment care for women with breast and gynaecologic cancers across two Irish cancer centres (Cork and Galway). The study aimed to assess whether:
- A nurse-led clinic model would be both feasible and acceptable for patients.
- Women would participate in and complete electronic symptom and quality-of-life surveys over the study period of one year.
- The approach could help reduce symptom burden, including fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
With 200 women enrolled, the study demonstrated high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Women who had access to the nurse and dietitian-led clinic reported fewer symptoms compared to those in standard follow-up care.
Kate O’Connell, a key researcher on the project, explained: “This study provided critical insights into how we can enhance survivorship care. Our findings indicate that a nurse-led model is both practical and well-received by patients. While preliminary results suggest lower symptom burden, further research is needed to confirm the long-term impact on quality of life.”
The success of the LYSA study underscores the importance of innovative, patient-centred approaches in cancer survivorship care.