The quality of care for cancer patients in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow has significantly improved since nurses were appointed to help patients get the services they need, the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) says.
A review carried out for the ERHA says the service should be expanded.
The nurses, known as "cancer nurse co-ordinators", provide information and advice to patients and their families, as well as helping them to get services.
During 2002 and 2001, over €20 million will have been invested in cancer and palliative care services in the eastern region, Mr Donal O'Shea, chief executive of the ERHA, said yesterday.
Psychology services for cancer patients are also being developed, he said.
Mr O'Shea added that there had been a significant drop in the death rate from the common cancers in the eastern region.
The death rate from cancer for men living in the east has dropped by over 8 per cent and the death rate for women has fallen by nearly 10 per cent.
In the case of breast cancer, death rates of women under 65 have dropped by well over a fifth. The death rate among men from colorectal cancer has dropped by 10 per cent, while for women it has gone down by over 18 per cent.
The review group was chaired by Mr Barry Segrave, former chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board.
It found that the cancer nurse co-ordinator should be informed when a patient is diagnosed with cancer.