New report shows importance of Counselling to Donegal people affected by cancer

A new report on the National Counselling Grants Programme reveals that over a third of Donegal cancer patients who availed of the service sought counselling less than one year after a cancer diagnosis. 
Another 36 per cent of clients required counselling within two years of diagnosis, highlighting the need for emotional support following the completion of treatment.
The report, commissioned the Irish Cancer Society shows the Society supported 207 counselling sessions for Donegal cancer patients in 2012.
The counselling service, which is available to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis, saw a third of Donegal clients presenting with concerns such as anxiety, fear and stress following the trauma of their illness and 23 per cent who needed help adjusting to life after cancer and learning new coping skills.
The effect of cancer is wider than the immediate person diagnosed with 18 per cent of Donegal clients attending as relatives of a cancer patient, usually an adult child of the diagnosed person.
Another 7 per cent of the clients who used the counselling service were also bereaved due to cancer, highlighting the need for support the in the months and years after the immediate impact of the illness.
Females are also more likely to attend for professional counselling than males with 73 per cent of female Donegal clients attending in 2012 compared to 27 per cent of males.
Almost half of those who used the service were between the ages of 41 and 60.
Cancer patients and their relatives can find their nearest affiliate support centre providing this service by logging on to www.cancer.ie/how-we-can-help/support or call the Irish Cancer Society Freefone Helpline on 1800 200 700.