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Breakthrough Cancer Research

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Breakthrough Cancer Research

Breakthrough Cancer Research is an Irish medical research charity investing in world-class research to impact the quality of life for people with cancer.

Our Charitable Purpose, for which the company (which has charitable status) is established, is the raising and application of money and other resources for the purpose of education, and research and development, in the field of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Registered Charity Number: 20077945

01/09/2026

Cancer survival in Ireland has improved significantly over the past two decades. That is something to be genuinely hopeful about.

New figures from the National Cancer Registry Ireland show that five-year survival across all invasive cancers has risen to 66%. For some cancers, survival is now around 95%.

But progress has not been equal.

Five-year survival is still just 15% for pancreatic cancer, 25% for liver, oesophageal and lung cancers, 32% for brain and spinal cord cancers, 37% for stomach cancer and 40% for ovarian cancer.

Six of these seven cancers still have five-year survival of 40% or less. Together, they account for around 44% of cancer deaths in Ireland.

This is why we focus our research funding where the unmet need remains greatest.

The new data also shows why that focus must go beyond earlier diagnosis alone. For pancreatic and liver cancer, five-year survival remains only 33% and 34% respectively even when diagnosed at stage I.

Earlier diagnosis matters enormously. So does new, better, kinder, smarter treatments and diagnostics which give people with cancer more options and more time with their loved ones.

The progress already made in cancer survival shows what research can achieve.

Our focus is on helping make sure that progress reaches more cancers, and more people, in the years ahead.

Read the full report here: https://www.ncri.ie/en/reports-publications/reports/cancer-in-ireland-1994-2023-annual-statistical-report-of-the-national

28/08/2026

💙 Could you help bring Breakthrough Cancer Research’s National Fundraising Collections to your community this September?

We’re looking for Area Co-ordinators in locations across Ireland for our collections around World Cancer Research Day on Thursday, 24 September.

As an Area Co-ordinator, you’ll help organise a collection in your local town or shopping centre and bring together family, friends or local volunteers to take part. Our team will support you every step of the way.

Every collection helps raise vital funds for cancer research being carried out by over 200 researchers across Ireland.

If you’d like to get involved, complete the form here: https://bit.ly/BreakthroughCoordinatorForm or contact Edel directly:
📞 021 422 6655
✉️ [email protected]

And if co-ordinating isn’t for you, you can still support a local collection by volunteering for a few hours.

Know someone who would be perfect for it? Please send this post their way.

27/08/2026

Stomach cancer can be very difficult to treat, and chemotherapy does not work for everyone.

Breakthrough Cancer Research is supporting Dr. Camille Hurley’s research at Trinity College Dublin St. James’s Cancer Institute, which is focused on developing more personalised treatment approaches for people with stomach cancer.

In this video, Dr. Hurley explains how her research is using artificial intelligence to help predict when chemotherapy may be unlikely to work, while also growing “mini tumours” in the lab to test alternative drugs in a patient-specific way.

Because stomach cancers can behave and respond very differently from person to person, this research aims to help doctors choose the right treatment for the right person at the right time.

🩵 You can help make research like Camille’s possible by becoming a monthly donor. Visit the donate page here: https://bit.ly/BreakthroughDonate

26/08/2026

The lived experience of people with cancer is fundamental to cancer research.

It brings knowledge, insight and perspective that cannot come from the laboratory or clinic alone, helping to shape the questions research asks, how it is designed and how its findings ultimately translate into better outcomes for people with cancer.

That principle sits at the heart of VOICE-Ireland, the first all-island residential research training programme for cancer patient advocates, taking place this week at UCD Conway Institute.

Over five immersive days, 13 advocates from across the island of Ireland are working alongside researchers and clinicians, combining academic learning with hands-on laboratory experience and practical advocacy training.

Breakthrough Cancer Research is proud to support this inaugural VOICE-Ireland programme and to be represented there this week.

Dr. Frances Drummond, Research Manager at Breakthrough Cancer Research, explains why this matters: ‘The patient voice and Public and Patient Involvement are vital to the work of our Research Department and to how we approach cancer research. People with lived experience bring an expertise that is essential to research, from identifying priorities and shaping research questions through to design and dissemination. Our aim is to ensure they are not simply involved in research, but are genuine partners and co-creators of their own health.’

VOICE-Ireland is itself a powerful example of what patient leadership can achieve. Patient advocates Jacqueline Daly, Debbie Keatley and Aidan McCormick took part in the original VOICE programme at Barts Cancer Institute (Queen Mary University of London) three years ago. Having experienced its impact on their own advocacy, they became instrumental in bringing the programme to Ireland and creating that same opportunity for advocates across the island.

We are delighted to support them, the inaugural participants and everyone involved in making VOICE-Ireland a reality.

25/08/2026

🥩 How much red meat is too much?

When it comes to food and cancer, it can be difficult to know what to eat, what to avoid and what the evidence actually says.

Red meat includes beef, pork and lamb, and the World Cancer Research Fund recommends limiting it to less than 500g cooked meat per week, or roughly 2–3 portions. An easy way to picture a portion? ✋ About half the size of the palm of your hand.

But that doesn’t mean red meat needs to disappear from your plate. In modest amounts, it can form part of a healthy, balanced way of eating and is a valuable source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

Processed meat is different. Foods such like rashers, ham, salami and sausages have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Preservatives called Nitrates and Nitrites are added to processed meat which can cause damage to cells in our body which may lead to cancer. That is why processed meat is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is strong evidence that it can cause cancer, while red meat is classified as Group 2A, meaning it is a probable cause of colorectal cancer.

So what can we do? Small changes can help. Try replacing some of the meat in dishes like Bolognese with kidney beans, chickpeas or lentils, eating smaller portions of red meat, including meat-free days or choosing fish instead.

If you would like to learn more, you can read or order our free booklet “The Truth Behind Food & Cancer” here: https://breakthroughcancerresearch.ie/the-truth-behind-food-and-cancer/

It is written by expert registered dietitians and is packed with clear, evidence-based guidance.

23/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ Best of luck to everyone taking part in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon today! 🏃‍♂️

We are so grateful to everyone running, fundraising or cheering in support of Breakthrough Cancer Research.

From Larne to the spectacular Antrim Coast Road, every one of those 13.1 miles is about more than reaching the finish line. It is about helping to fund research into new, better, kinder, smarter and more effective treatments and diagnostics for people with cancer.

To everyone representing , thank you for turning your miles into support for cancer research and helping us .

Enjoy the incredible scenery, soak up the atmosphere and be proud of every step you take.

We will be cheering you on all the way! 💙

20/08/2026

🏃 Missed out on a place in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on 2026? You could still be on the start line with .

We have a limited number of charity places available for this year’s marathon on Sunday, 25 October 2026.

So if you missed out on a general entry and have been hoping to take on Dublin this year, this could be your chance. 👟

By running with , every kilometre you cover will help fund research into new, better, kinder, smarter and more effective treatments and diagnostics for people with cancer.

We’ll support you along the way with your fundraising page, fundraising materials and your very own Team Breakthrough t-shirt.

💙 Places are limited, so register your interest here: https://bit.ly/DublinMarathon26

18/08/2026

🔬 Meet Elena Brophy, one of our 2026 Breakthrough Cancer Research Summer Student Scholars.

This summer, Elena is working with Prof. James Clover and Dr. Ann Kirby University College Cork to explore the potential of electrochemotherapy, an emerging treatment for skin cancer.

Electrochemotherapy combines chemotherapy drugs with short, controlled electrical pulses that help the treatment enter cancer cells more effectively. It may offer another treatment option for people with skin cancer when standard treatments are unsuitable or have not been successful.

Elena’s research will look at both the clinical benefits and costs of electrochemotherapy to better understand whether it could be introduced more widely within Ireland’s public healthcare system. The study will also draw on the experiences of people who have received treatment, alongside insights from clinicians and other stakeholders.

By supporting students like Elena, we’re helping to develop the next generation of cancer researchers and offering the opportunity to contribute to research that could help shape better treatment and care for people with cancer.

Congratulations, Elena. We look forward to following your research this summer. 🩵

👉 You can support cancer research like this here: https://breakthroughcancerresearch.ie/donate-now/

15/08/2026

There is no safe way to use a sunbed.

Niamh Hetherton from Dublin GAA is helping raise awareness about the dangers of sunbed use, and the message is clear:

☀️ Using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma skin cancer by 75%
☀️ Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and can spread to other organs in the body
☀️ Sunbed use can cause your skin to age more quickly
☀️ It can lead to brown spots, wrinkles, loss of skin firmness and leathery skin

Protect your skin. Protect your future.

This is part of our campaign, helping raise awareness of the steps we can all take to reduce our risk of skin cancer.

More information:
HSE Ireland Healthy Ireland
👉 Or follow the link here: https://bit.ly/SunSmartHSE

13/08/2026

With around 900 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer across the island of Ireland each year, new and better approaches are urgently needed.

Breakthrough Cancer Research is investing €1 million in our AllCaN Pancreatic programme, bringing together researchers, clinicians, patients and partners across the island of Ireland to address some of the biggest challenges in pancreatic cancer research.

In this video, Prof. Richard Turkington of Queen's University Belfast , co-lead of the programme, explains how the research will focus on improving access to genetic testing, studying pancreatic cancer in the lab and developing ways to detect tumours earlier, when more treatment options may be available.

Through our AllCaN initiative, we are supporting deep collaboration across institutions and disciplines to improve outcomes for people with cancers where progress is urgently needed.

By supporting Breakthrough Cancer Research, you’re helping to fund research into new, better, kinder, smarter treatments and diagnostics for people with cancer. 🩵

Support cancer research and help us here: https://bit.ly/BreakthroughDonate

Address

Glenlee, Western Road
Cork

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+353214226655

Website

http://www.breakthroughcancerresearch.ie/

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