Oncologist Paul on song with cancer choir

After spending nearly two hours in the company of consultant oncologist Dr Paul Donnellan, two things immediately jump to mind.The first is that I hope I never have to see him ever again.The second, is that if I ever did, I would be happy if it was him I was entrusting my life to.

For someone who spends his life giving bad news, dealing with death and disease, battling a relentless scourge within our bodies, he has such a pleasant and upbeat manner about him. Dr Death he is not.It is entirely unsurprising that it is he who came up with the novel idea of creating a cancer choir.

Something to Sing About (STSA) is a network of choirs which aims to create a haven for cancer survivors to forget about their illness, have fun and give them the opportunity to network with other patients.

The only requirements for setting up a choir centre are a handful of cancer patients, a room for rehearsals, a musical director willing to help, and access to the internet so every centre can download the material to ensure all the choirs are learning the same repertoire.

“I was kind of wondering myself why I got involved. It’s kind of whacky. It’s not a thing a medical oncologist gets involved in. No one has so far had the decency to say I’m daft. I’m sure they are thinking it,” he grins.

Since its launch last month at University Hospital Galway (UHG), there are already nine STSA centres, dotted mainly around the west of Ireland.

Ideally there would be an STSA centre attached to every cancer support centre in Ireland. The idea has also sparked international interest. Paul has been approached by the world famous Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York about setting up a branch, with interest shown too by 14 Breast Cancer Centres in the UK and a centre in Brisbane, Australia.

Paul’s vision is that cancer survivors will be able to drop into centres around the country and the world for a rehearsal and a chat; maybe hear about a particular treatment or drug that are unfamiliar with, and learn something new.

He hopes the website will provide a forum for medics to answer questions from patients and that the rehearsals and performances will give experts the opportunity to deliver news on new and exciting developments.

It could also become a means of fundraising for cancer research. Above all it should be a place for people to have fun.

In its short history of existence, he believes being part of a choir has helped people cope with their diagnosis and get through their treatment.

“It might just improve their outcome by keeping spirits up. There is some evidence that music therapy helps improve outcomes. It’s good for the body and the mind.”

The idea emerged when he took up singing himself, which he did to mark the tenth anniversary of becoming an oncologist.

He started voice lessons with the Galway Voice Studio and was persuaded to join the hospital choir, which is directed by Seamus Leonard.

“I’m not a good singer at all. My brother is a good singer and I always wanted to be able to sing in the pub. I’m no great addition to the hospital choir but as long as I keep it low they don’t throw me out,” he laughs.

He was struck by the sense of camaraderie during the weekly rehearsals. The choir meet up for dinner occasionally and instead of drinking, the group can’t help singing. He was impressed by the sheer energy he got out of the experience and began to think about how beneficial it would be for his patients.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.