The Living Well Cancer Programme

The idea for thisisGO.ie was born in September 2020 when the team at The Living Well Cancer Programme based in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) met for the first time.

This programme is part of the Irish Cancer Society’s Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the aim of which is to improve health and wellbeing for women impacted by cancer who are dealing with the side effects and consequences of treatment.

"We see women and their families impacted by gynaecological cancer as partners in their care"

Donal Brennan, Prof of Gynaecological Oncology, UCD and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, Mater Misericordiae and St Vincent’s University Hospital University Hospitals, Dublin

Who is involved?

The Irish Cancer Societies Women’s Health Initiative was initially a two year funded project, which has been extended by a further two years ending in October 2024. The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, with the help of Public and Patient Involvement, has called the group the “The Living Well Cancer Programme” and is supported by the Health Service Executive (HSE), The Mater Private Network, The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), Breakthrough Cancer Research,  Pfizer Ireland, GSK, Ovacare and Patient Donations.

Who are it’s target audience?

The WHI will focus on women impacted by breast and gynaecological cancer over the duration of the grant.

The team

The team is led by Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at University College Dublin, Donal Brennan.  The team also comprises two Clinical Nurse Specialists; (CNSs) Aidin Roberts and Louise Comerford (2020-2022),  Clinical Research Fellow 2020-2022, Dr. Fionán Donohoe and 2022-2024 Dr Teresa Tracy and Research Coordinator, Yvonne O’Meara.

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Prof. Donal Brennan

Donal Brennan is Professor fo Gynaecological Oncology at UCD and Academic Lead of the UCD Gynaecological Oncology group, the Mater Misericordiae and St Vincent’s University Hospitals. He has multiple research interests in gynaecological oncology and has led the Irish Cancer Society Women's Health Initiative at UCD which is focused on improving care for women after cancer. He is also a Principal Investigator at Systems Biology Ireland where he leads a number of clinical and translational research projects.
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Dr. Teresa Treacy

Dr Teresa Treacy is a Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is currently working as a Clinical Research Fellow with the Living Well Cancer Programme. Teresa is a member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK. Teresa is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine, and since graduating has trained in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and is currently a higher specialist trainee. Teresa is currently pursuing an MD qualification as part of her role with the Living Well Cancer Programme, her research looks to improve on the management of insomnia in women with and after cancer. Other areas of interest include gynaecological surgery, sexual and reproductive health as well as post-reproductive health and menopause care.
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Aidin Roberts

Aidin Roberts has worked as an oncology nurse for the last 17 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience working in radiation oncology, medical oncology and gynaecology oncology. In the past year she has taken up the role of Survivorship CNS in Gynaecology Oncology at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin where she has a keen interest in supporting her patients as they transition from the acute phase of their cancer treatment through to the survivorship phase.

Yvonne O'Meara

Yvonne O'Meara is a Systemic Psychotherapist and Psychosocial Oncologist. Yvonne has worked as a Medical Social Worker in psychosocial oncology and palliative care since 2004 in teaching hospitals in Ireland and North America. Yvonne is the co-founder of the ISGO-PPI (Irish Society of Gynaecological Oncology Public and Patient Involvement).  In 2020 Yvonne took up a post at the UCD School of Medicine as Women's Cancer Survivorship Research coordinator based in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
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Sharon Glynn

Sharon has taken up the role as Survivorship CNS in Gynaecology Oncology at The National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent's University Hospital during the last year. She has over 11 years of experience of working in surgical oncology nursing, the last six of which were spent working in Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) oncology at the national Surgical Centre for Pancreatic Cancer at St Vincent's University Hospital as a CNS. Sharon is passionate about helping her patients from the start of their cancer treatment journey to becoming survivors.

Past contributors

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Louise Comerford

Louise Comerford has taken up the role as Survivorship CNS in Gynaecology Oncology at The National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent's University Hospital during the last year. She has over 11 years of experience of working in oncology nursing, the last six of which were spent working in Gynaecology Oncology in the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust in the UK. She has a keen interest in supporting her patients as they transition from the acute phase of their cancer treatment through to the survivorship phase.
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Dr. Fionán Donohoe

Dr. Fionán Donohoe is a Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and is currently working as Clinical Research Fellow with the Living Well Cancer Programme. Fionán is a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK. Fionán is a graduate of UCD School of Medicine and holds a Master's Degree in Healthcare Leadership from UCC.  Fionán is currently pursuing a PhD qualification focusing on menopausal symptoms after cancer treatment at UCD and plans to specialise in Gynaecological Oncology with a special interest in survivorship.
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Prof. Donal Brennan

Donal Brennan is Professor fo Gynaecological Oncology at UCD and academic lead of the UCD Gynaecological Oncology group at UCD, the Mater Misericordiae and St Vincent’s University Hospitals. He has multiple research interests in gynaecological oncology and has led Irish Cancer Society Womens Health Initiative at UCD which is focused on developing at improving care for women after cancer. He is also a principal investigator at Systems Biology Ireland and leads a number of clinical and translational research projects.
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Louise Comerford

Louise Comerford has taken up the role as Survivorship CNS in Gynaecology Oncology at The National Maternity Hospital and St Vincents University Hospital during the last year. She has over 11 years of experience working in oncology, the last 6 of which were spent working in Gynaecology Oncology in the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust. She has a keen interest in supporting her patients as they transition from the acute phase of their cancer treatment through to the Survivorship Phase.
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Dr. Fionán Donohoe

Dr. Fionán Donohoe is a Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and is currently working as Clinical Research Fellow with the Living Well Cancer Programme. Fionán is a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK. Fionán is a graduate of UCD medical school and holds a Masters degree in Healthcare Leadership from UCC.  Fionán is currently pursuing a doctorate qualification focusing on menopausal symptoms after cancer treartment at UCD and plans to specialise in Gynaecological Oncology with a special interest in survivorship.
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Aidin Roberts

Aidin Roberts has worked as an oncology nurse for the last 17 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience working in radiation oncology, medical oncology and gynaecology oncology. In the past year she has taken up the role of Survivorship CNS in Gynaecology Oncology at the Mater Hospital Dublin where she has a keen interest in supporting her patients as they transition from the acute phase of their cancer treatment through to the Survivorship Phase.

Yvonne O'Meara

Yvonne is a systemic psychotherapist and psychosocial oncologist. Yvonne has worked as a medical social worker in psychosocial oncology and palliative care since 2004 in teaching hospitals in Ireland and North America. Yvonne is the co-founder of the ISGO-PPI (Irish Society of Gynecological Oncology Public and Patient Involvement).  In 2020 Yvonne took up a post at the University College Dublin school of medicine as women's cancer survivorship research coordinator based in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.