'When cancer comes to your door, we’re there': Nurses at CUH's Daffodil Centre tell us about their role 

When cancer impacts on your life, or on that of a loved one, it can affect every area. So somewhere special offering support and help is very welcome.

The Daffodil Centre at CUH has been operating since 2013 and the one in the Bon Secours Cork since 2011.

“The Centre offers support and advice in local hospitals and is a free confidential service looking after cancer patients and their families,” explains Emma O’Riordan, who is an Oncology Liaison Nurse in CUH.

Emma knows that cancer visits families everywhere.

“Cancer comes to everyone’s door, and it is a huge thing to be able to avail of support services like the Daffodil Centre,” she says.

“The information, reassurance and the knowledge that you can pop into the centre at any time is huge.”

One in three develops cancer, and one in four diagnosed will die from it.

Emma knows that the public will get behind the services of the Irish Cancer Society on Daffodil Day today, Friday, March 28, adding: “It is their biggest fundraiser in the year.”

Did she always want to be a nurse?

“Since I was very small,” says Emma. “The positive impact that nursing has on society drew me. My career offers many opportunities, and it opens up many avenues.

“The job can be challenging, and it can be rewarding. It is interesting.

“I’ve had many nursing roles in medical and surgical wards throughout the hospital, which included looking after many patients with a cancer diagnosis at many stages of their cancer journey - surgery, radiation or systemic treatment for their diagnosis.”

Emma has vast experience in all aspects of nursing, and spent five years working in an in-patient Haematology Oncology Unit looking after people with acute leukaemia and high-grade lymphomas.

“It included administering chemotherapy, blood product transfusions, medications and monitoring for side effects,” she explains.

Emma is part of a dedicated medical team.

“I liaise with the various members of the multidisciplinary teams as required, eg, medical doctor, psych-oncology team, dietician, physio, and pharmacist.

“I also spent three years working as an Acting Hemovigilance Officer with the blood bank in CUH.”

Emma, who has a Diploma in Nursing, a Bsc in Nursing Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing (level 9), and a Diploma in Healthcare Management, is currently working as an Oncology Liaison Nurse in CUH, primarily with patients with a diagnosis of melanoma under the care of the medical oncology service.

“This is a very varied and busy role,” she says. “I meet the patient with the consultant in the medical oncology clinic where a plan of care is decided. I provide the patient with information on planned treatment and supports that are available that might help them through their treatment journey, such as the Irish Cancer Society and the Daffodil Centre located in the CUH and ARC House.”

Emma cares for the patient during their cancer journey. “I act as the point of contact for the patient during their treatment journey.”

She is always available for them.

“I take calls from patients experiencing side-effects from treatment or symptoms of their cancer and direct them to an appropriate place for review, be it a GP, the Medical Oncology Clinic, or the Acute Oncology Service in CUH,” says Emma.

“I spend a lot of time liaising with other disciplines such as the social work department, chemo pharmacists in CUH, community pharmacy, GP, public health nurse, community palliative care teams, day ward nursing colleagues, medical oncology doctors, surgeons, dermatologists, and my Clinical Nurse Specialist colleagues working with the dermatology and surgical teams in the South Infirmary Hospital and Cork University Hospital.”

Emma values her colleagues.

“It’s great to have them in the Daffodil Centre on site and they are a great support to us and our patients going through their cancer journey.”

Emma also attends multidisciplinary team meetings where patients with a diagnosis of melanoma are discussed and treatment plans are formulated.

What does she like about working in CUH?

“There is a great team working here,” she says. “I believe everyone working here wants the best for their patient and we are always striving to improve the patient experience.

“I have great colleagues who always make themselves available and help where they can. It’s great to have so much expertise here on site in the hospital and I am constantly learning new things.”

What motivates Emma?

“My biggest motivation is seeing all the new treatments for cancer that are coming out and that more people are doing better as a result of these treatments. There is great job satisfaction in a career as a nurse.”

Leitrim woman, Carmel Monahan, who has been living in Cork for four years, agrees with her colleague.

“I mainly work with patients with a uro-oncology diagnosis such as prostate, kidney and bladder cancer” says Carmel.

“I first meet the patient with the consultant in the out-patient clinic where a plan of care is decided.

“I educate the patient on their prescribed treatment and refer them to the relevant services that may support their treatment.”

Like Emma, Carmel is available to her patients.

“I am a point of contact for the patients and their family throughout their treatment to help meet their psychological, emotional, and informational needs.

“I attend and partake in urology and oncology multidisciplinary team meetings, continuing to advocate for the patient throughout.”

The Daffodil Centre is a point of contact for people experiencing a cancer journey and their families.

“It is a wonderful facility here at CUH,” says Carmel. “The nurses are always available and they can always be reached by phone.”

Carmel, a dedicated nurse, gets familiar with her patients’ needs.

“I review patients weekly receiving oral anti-cancer treatment, assessing for any side-effects of their treatment,” she says.

“I take phone calls from patients experiencing side-effects and symptoms and refer them for appropriate care to our acute oncology unit, GPs, surgical team or back to the medical oncology clinics.”

Carmel continuously liaises with other members of the multidisciplinary team and members of the community such as pharmacies, GPs, PHNs and palliative care.

What does she like about her job?

“I like the friendly atmosphere working in CUH,” says Carmel. “Staff are always eager to help each other out and provide the best care for the patient’s outcome.

“There is great encouragement and support to continue educational development from both our nursing and medical colleagues.”

When did she decide to become a nurse?

“My career guidance teacher spoke to me about it first, then I got a summer job in my local nursing home and knew it was something I would love to do as a career.”

Carmel knows how important her role is.

“Having had a family member with a cancer diagnosis, I can see the importance our role plays in supporting and managing the patient and their family through a very difficult time in their life.

“I try to keep up to date with current best practice guidelines, ensuring I am always delivering the best care.”

Daffodil Day is on Friday, March 28 this year.

The first Daffodil Centre was set up as a pilot collaboration with University Hospital Galway in 2009. Its main objective was to provide information, care and support for the cancer patient and their families from diagnosis to treatment to follow up.

Over 300,000 have visited the Daffodil Centres in the last 10 years.

The Daffodil Centre Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. Phone: 021-4234536

Daffodil Centre Bons Secours Hospital College Road Cork. Phone: 021-4941941.

Centres are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.