Local student researching treatments for cancer patients
Ballymore student Siobhan Lynam is spending her summer researching for a cancer rehabilitation study for individuals with oesophageal and gastric cancer.
Siobhan (21) is currently in her third year studying Psychology at Dublin City University.
She started an internship in January as part of her degree working with Dr Lorraine Boran on a variety of different projects, including cancer research.
Siobhan spoke about the opportunity to work on this research saying: "Thanks to Breakthrough Cancer, I was given the opportunity to continue my work from the internship last semester. My research primarily focuses on a cancer rehabilitation study in individuals with oesophageal and gastric cancer also known as cancer of the windpipe and stomach named the PERIOP-OG trial.
"There have been great improvements in treatments for patients with these cancers. However, they can have a negative effect on physical and mental wellbeing for example reduced fitness levels and quality of life."
Siobhan is working alongside Dr Lisa Loughney and her wider team including PHD student Aideen Scriny on this research.
The aim of the PERIOP-OG Trial was to see if individuals with this cancer would benefit from taking part in an exercise prehabiliation programme compared to those who did not take part in the programme. The results showed that the exercise programme greatly improved fitness for surgery compared to those who didn’t take part. Interviews were also taken before and after surgery to understand the experiences of individuals who took participated in the study.
Siobhan continued: "Cancer research is something I have and always will be passionate about. It has been really inspiring for me seeing the progress and advancements which have been made within this field in the last number of years thanks to organisations such as Breakthrough Cancer.
"Using this opportunity to look at this interview data will be beneficial as cancer diagnosis can affect the emotional health of individuals with cancer along with family, friends and caregivers. We believe that we can learn a lot from these interviews which will help us learn more about the needs of individuals with this cancer.
Siobhan feelsthat for many cancer patients’ cancer can cause a huge amount of heartache and trauma. "I believe it is incredibly important to look at the effects of cancer and cancer treatments on mental health as well as physical health. The field of psychology is where I belong, but I hope in the future that I will be able to continue my work in the field of cancer research assessing both physical and psychological factors."
Breakthrough Cancer is an organisation which is committed to funding research to improve cancer care and outcomes and ensures patient benefit is at the core of their efforts. Summer Student Scholarships is an initiative to facilitate the partnership of students with research teams and to foster the education of the next generation of cancer research leaders. It is focused on patients, with the ultimate aim being to improve cancer care and increase survival rates.