Dr Martin Higgins

Consultant Radiation Oncologist
CUH/UCC Cancer Centre at Cork University Hospital
Private Consulting Rooms, Suite 1.6 Consultants Private Clinic, Cork University Hospital

Dr Martin Higgins is a Consultant Radiation Oncologist practising at the CUH/UCC Cancer Centre at Cork University Hospital. He provides specialist, evidence-based radiotherapy with particular expertise in skin cancer, urological malignancies and central nervous system tumours, delivering highly precise treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

Dr Higgins graduated with honours in Medicine from Trinity College Dublin, receiving the Professor’s Prize in Medicine. He was awarded Membership and later Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI). He completed Higher Specialist Training in Radiation Oncology in Cork, Dublin and Galway Hospitals, through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), achieving Fellowship of the Faculty of Radiologists (FFR RCSI) and Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in Radiation Oncology (CCST) from RCSI. He has served as Chief Registrar of the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network.

Following specialist accreditation, he undertook advanced fellowship training in stereotactic radiotherapy at The St Lukes Institute of Cancer Research, Dublin and completed an international fellowship at The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, one of the world’s leading dedicated cancer centres. There he developed advanced expertise in melanoma, complex non-melanoma skin cancers, skin lymphomas and brain tumours, with extensive experience in external beam radiotherapy, superficial radiotherapy, and electron beam therapy for skin cancer, enabling optimal treatment selection based on tumour characteristics, anatomical considerations and cosmetic outcomes. He also gained expert knowledge in external beam radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for primary and secondary brain tumours. All of these techniques are available at CUH/UCC Cancer Centre.

He has particular expertise in the use of radio-isotope therapies in thyroid cancer and advanced prostate cancer, integrating systemic radionuclide treatments within a comprehensive oncological strategy where appropriate. His clinical practice encompasses both curative-intent and palliative radiotherapy and radio isotopes, with careful attention to oncological control, functional preservation and quality of life.

A former Head of the Radiotherapy Department at CUH, Dr Higgins has played a leading role in advancing modern radiotherapy services. He established and leads the stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) programme for brain tumours at CUH and has been instrumental in the implementation of stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) for prostate cancer and oligometastatic cancer, expanding access to highly targeted treatment techniques.

Dr Higgins is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at University College Cork (UCC) with a strong commitment to undergraduate medical and radiotherapy education and postgraduate training. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in international medical journals and remains actively involved in clinical research, serving as local Principal Investigator on several international clinical trials via Cancer Trials Ireland. His academic engagement ensures that patients under his care benefit from contemporary, guideline-driven and innovation-led treatment approaches and have access to clinical trials.

In private practice at the Consultants Private Clinic, CUH, Dr Higgins offers prompt access to specialist consultation, detailed assessment and individualised treatment planning. He works closely with referring GPs and consultant colleagues to provide coordinated multidisciplinary care, with a strong emphasis on clear communication and shared decision-making.

Areas of Special Expertise

• Skin cancer -melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer
• Cutaneous (skin) lymphoma
• Mucosal melanoma
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder and kidney cancers
• Primary and secondary brain tumours
• Spine tumours
• Thyroid cancer
• Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
• Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR)
• Radio-isotope therapies for thyroid and prostate cancer
• Palliative radiotherapy

Referrals and patient correspondence preferred by email to [email protected] where possible.

Referrals also accepted by post to Dr Martin Higgins, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Suite 1.6, Consultants Private Clinic, Cork University Hospital.

Linked in Profile: linkedin.com/in/martin-higgins-176ab21b3

Research Gate Profile: www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin-Higgins-7