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Hey All I hope everyone is doing well My wife was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma this month, so we applied for the Illness Benefit. However, she doesn't have enough PRSI contributions. I then looked into the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, but I believe we may not pass the means test. I was wondering if there are any other government supports available to her, as she will not be able to work during her treatment.

Hi, I am a week on from having cancer surgery, just wondering if there is any other support I may be entitled to, illness benefit is not going to go far. I have worked my entire life and I do not the ins and outs of getting assistance. Regards Paul

Hi all, wondering if anyone has advice. I do not have BRCA gene but have a high lifetime risk of cancer based on 5 of 5 aunties and other close relatives having breast and other cancers. Doctors have advised they think it is likely another BRCA type gene that has as of yet not been discovered. I am considering a preventative double mastectomy as the cancer feels somewhat inevitable. What I was hoping to get guidance on is if there was anyone else in this situation - what were the costs involved? And was any of it covered by health insurance?

Hi everyone. I'm new here. I found this site as I am trying to find ways for my family to communicate regarding the care of an aging parent with lung cancer. Like a kind of mediator well can help to set up communication? Thanks in advance for any advice

Hi All I had a mastectomy two years ago and got a form from the breast nurse for a prosthesesis and bra to take to a surgical bra shop, all free of charge. I believe even if you are not a medical card holder you can get an allowance towards a replacement prostheseis and bra. But how do you go about getting this? Is it at the breast clinic or is there a specialised department within the HSE that deals with it? Thanks for your help.

My lovely Dad, aged 82 lives alone in Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim. He is recovering from an end ileostomy in April 2023. His care is provided by Galway and Roscommon. He does not drive as he has advanced macular degeneration. I cannot always get to Carrick to drive him to and from Galway and the alternative is a round trip taxi fare with a wait time in Galway of ca €500. He has a few appointments coming up and we are not sure how we will manage. Can anyone suggest a solution?

Does metastasised prostate cancer qualify as a disability for Disability Allowance?

Hi my husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer in august, tumour removed and all was fine until we received a call to say they think he may have it in his nodes. he’s due to have a EUS and petscan, we have limited VHI cover, will we have to pay a % of the petscan or is this 100% covered under the HSE . i’m worried about finances as he will be out of work once the treatment starts . Ger

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has had experience with their work trying to side-line them when they come back to work? I work in a large public sector hospital and have been out from work for just over 2 years. Our Occupational Health consultant signed me off to return to work 7 weeks ago and I have had to chase my department and HR to start the process. Last week I met with my new manager (started while I was out) and a HR person. They are attempting to put me into a role 2 levels below mine in an entirely different directorate doing data entry. HR person said I am unlikely to ever return to my department and that the office is not 'ergonomically suitable'. Nothing in the Occupational Health report hints at anything to even remotely support this. Sitting near a window for light & temperature management and a phased return is all that is advised. After a long battle with side effects I was prepared for the return to work to be difficult, but I thought it would be only managing side effects, fear of recurrence and awkwardness with colleagues, financial issues. Is there any services that you know of for someone to come along to my next meeting to help me? Because they are behaving so badly I don't want to expose a colleague to any backlash for coming with me. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on how to proceed? Any help greatly appreciated! Thank-you in advance :-) Shocked and disappointed survivor

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. First chemo session last week. My question is, is there anyone who can advise on health insurance other than the insurance company? I have been public so far and it has been excellent. I have private insurance but I don’t really understand how it works and when I rang the insurer, they were very vague in answering my questions. I wanted to know if I was covered to be treated privately and they kept coming out with things like- well you can choose to see your consultant privately in the public hospital. After much pressing (and I tears) they said I was covered). I am happy to go public but not if it gets my insurance company off the hook and ends up costing the tax payer! I just want clear answers. I find it disgraceful that they were not more straight with me! When I went for my first breast check I clicked the “have insurance” box and just assumed whatever cover I had would kick in! Obviously not. I am wrecked from chemo but this is niggling at me. Any advice? Thanks