Health literacy – clearer cancer communication for better health

Health literacy is the ability to get, understand and use healthcare information.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is the ability to get, understand and use healthcare information.

Around 1 in 3 people in Ireland have difficulties with health literacy.

Health literacy difficulties can have a huge effect on patients’ ability to prevent and cope with illnesses, including cancer. 

Health literacy and cancer

People with low health literacy are:

  • More likely to get cancer
  • Less likely to get screened 
  • Less likely to take lifestyle steps to avoid cancer
  • More likely to be diagnosed later. This can mean their cancer is harder to treat 
  • More likely to have trouble managing their disease – for example, making treatment decisions, taking medication correctly and managing side-effects
  • More likely to suffer severe distress
  • More likely to die from their cancer

Health literacy and the Irish Cancer Society

The Irish Cancer Society wants everyone in Ireland to have the same access to care and support during their cancer journey. Supporting good health literacy by working with cancer patients and the people who care for them will help to reduce inequalities in cancer rates, experiences and outcomes.

Patient empowerment

We want to empower people with confidence and skills to cope better with their cancer and avoid unnecessary physical and emotional difficulties.

We have worked with the Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) to produce videos on 3 core areas of health literacy. The videos were supported by MSD and feature cancer survivors and an adult literacy learner. 

You can watch our Patient empowerment videos to find out more

Watch the full series of 3 videos covering getting the most from health appointments, understanding test results and finding information and support between appointments.

Our cancer nurses are there for you

Our cancer nurses – in hospital-based Daffodil Centres and on our Freephone Support Line – are there for patients who have difficulty getting, understanding or using health information.

Whether you're the patient, the carer or a loved one, our cancer nurses can help with concerns like:

  • “I'm worried, but don’t want to bother their oncology team.” 
  • “'Caught off guard’ at the last appointment and didn’t take all of the information in.” 
  • “Found out by chance that they'd been taking only half the correct dose of their cancer medication for 6 months.” 
  • “I feel isolated and don’t understand the disease.”
  • “I'm wondering if they're going to die”
  • “I don't understand the type and grading of the cancer, or the tests.”

Supporting healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals have an important role in supporting patients with health literacy needs. Clear, efficient communication helps cancer patients to understand and manage their treatment and care.

Cancer Health Literacy course logo

The Irish Cancer Society and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) have produced an eLearning course to raise awareness of how health literacy can affect cancer patients and give an overview of health literacy friendly communication techniques. These include the universal precautions approach, teachback and tips for writing plain-language patient information

Our cancer information

Our booklets and web information are designed to support patients and busy doctors by providing easy-to-understand information on all stages of the cancer journey – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis and treatment, side-effects and where to go for practical and emotional support. 


We're here to help

Our range of free services are here for you

Free Support Packs
If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer, we can support you. We can send you a free cancer Support Packs filled with useful information and resources .
Patient Education
Our free patient education group sessions and video resources provide information to guide you through and beyond cancer treatment.
Counselling
We fund professional one-to-one counselling for anyone affected by cancer remotely (over the phone/online) or in person in certain cancer support centres around the country.

Talk to a Cancer Nurse

Support Line

Support Line

Our Cancer Nurses offer confidential advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer. Call or email supportline@irishcancer.ie. Video calls available. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Support Line
Our Daffodil Centres

Our Daffodil Centres

Our Daffodil Centres in 13 hospitals nationwide are staffed by Cancer Nurses and trained volunteers who provide face-to-face advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer.
Our Daffodil Centres