LOL: September 2, 2025

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is kicking off a fresh season of MyHealth RCSI, tomorrow with a free public series that mixes science, stories and everyday health wisdom – without the jargon overload. Launching tomorrow – Wednesday, September 3, the 2025/26 line-up promises to cover big topics with a human touch. First up: the experiences of family carers, shining a light on their wellbeing needs (and probably answering the question: “When do they get a cup of tea?”). Later events will bring the latest on asthma treatments and how cutting-edge care is changing lives. And to keep brains and bodies moving, another session will explore how inclusive sport boosts brain health – perfect for anyone who’s ever claimed ‘exercise is all in your head’. The launch at St Stephen’s Green will include perspectives from scientists, patient advocates and communication experts, offering a taster of what’s to come in this lively, people-first health series. Admission is free, but you’ll need to register in advance. Science is serious, but MyHealth RCSI proves learning about it doesn’t have to be. *************** Prostate cancer is no laughing matter – unless a cheeky joke is exactly what gets men talking. That’s the thinking behind the Marie Keating Foundation’s latest Stand Up for Your Prostate campaign, launched this month. The headline? ‘No Bum Hole Needed’. The message? Getting checked might be far simpler (and far less awkward) than many men imagine. Early detection often starts with a quick PSA blood test – no gloves, no squirming, no excuses. One-in-six Irish men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, but survival rates soar above 93 per cent when caught early. That’s why the Foundation is urging men over 50 – or over 45 with a family history – to chat with their GP. With posters on bus shelters, ads on radio, and even a Blue Man Pin you can buy to support services, the campaign is finding creative ways to spark conversations. As one nurse put it, prostate checks don’t need to be ‘a pain in the bum’. And if humour helps save lives, then perhaps laughter really is the best medicine – or at least the best ice-breaker. The original ‘Blue Man Group’ is a performance art ensemble that use ‘music, comedy, and art to create a euphoric, universally appealing celebration of human connection’. They were founded in New York in 1987. I’ve seen them perform. They blue me away. *************** On this day next week September 9, Dublin’s Phoenix Park will fill with walkers, candles and song as the Boots Night Walk returns in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. (I guess these ‘Boots’ were made for walking) Led by broadcaster Maia Dunphy, who is walking in memory of her late mum, the event raises vital funds for the Society’s Night Nursing Service – a programme that allows families to care for loved ones with dignity in their final days, at home. The walk is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a chance to honour cancer survivors, remember those lost, and come together in solidarity. The Dublin Gospel Choir will provide the soundtrack, and for €15 participants get a t-shirt (because no charity walk is complete without one). Since 2012, Boots has raised more than €4 million for the Night Nursing Service, funding over 10,000 nights of care. This year, supporters can sign up to walk in the Phoenix Park, stroll in their own community, or simply buy an Honour Tag in any Boots store for €3. Whether you walk, donate, or just hum along with the choir, every step helps keep this much-needed service glowing in the dark. Remember to walk, not run. If you say you’re running in the Phoenix Park these days, people will get confused and think you’re trying to be Presidential, and will worry you will end up spending all your money buying drink for County Councillors. *************** The global regenerative medicine community met last month at King’s College, Cambridge for the World Scientific Conference — and left with more than a few notes scribbled in their lab books. Among the highlights was the World Regenerative Medicine Innovation Award, presented to Irishman Dr Patrick Treacy for his long-standing contributions to non-surgical hair growth treatments. Nearly two decades ago, Treacy pioneered the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells to stimulate hair follicle repair. His work offered an alternative to the ‘plug-and-pray’ style of traditional transplants, paving the way for today’s more refined therapies. At the conference, he also delivered a lively talk titled “Secretomes: The New Kid on the Block!” — not, as some feared, a Marvel sequel, but an exploration of how these cell-secreted molecules may change the future of regenerative medicine. The award ceremony included a blue plaque, warm applause, and the sort of polite standing ovation Cambridge does best. While Treacy was gracious in his thanks, the real focus was on how PRP, stem cells, and now secretomes could expand treatment options far beyond hairlines. For scientists, it was proof the field continues to grow — just like the follicles. *************** Which reminds me…. There was an old man who lived by a forest. As he grew older and older, he started losing his hair, until one day, on his deathbed, he was completely bald. That day, he called his children to a meeting… He said, “Look at my hair. It used to be so magnificent, but it’s completely gone now. My hair can’t be saved. But look outside at the forest. It’s such a lovely forest with so many trees, but sooner or later they’ll all be cut down and this forest will look as bald as my hair.” “What I want you to do…” the man continued. “Is, every time a tree is cut down or dies, plant a new one in my memory. Tell your descendants to do the same. It shall be our family’s duty to keep this forest strong.” And so they did. Each time the forest lost a tree, the children replanted one, and so did their children, and their children after them. And for centuries, the forest remained as lush and pretty as it once was, all because of one man and his re-seeding heirline.