Expert warns of ‘epidemic’ fears as cancer rises

MORE Irish people are getting cancer and while medical advances ensure more of us survive it, experts have warned of a ‘cancer epidemic’.

The National Cancer Registry indicated that the rise in rates of the disease is because of our growing and ageing population.

And Donal Buggy, of the Irish Cancer Society, warned the health service may not be fit to cope.

He said: ‘While rates of cancer per 100,000 people in Ireland appear to be stabilising, it is important to note that, because of our growing and ageing population, the number of people in Ireland being diagnosed with this disease continues to rise.

‘As such, we are facing into a cancer epidemic. If our health system is not properly equipped to deal with this, our ability to deliver the best outcomes for patients will diminish.’

Mr Buggy added that it is ‘hugely welcome to see that more people are surviving cancer’.

However, he said: ‘A cancer diagnosis can have a lasting impact on survivors, from debilitating treatment side-effects to continued mental health issues.

‘Disappointingly, though, such issues have historically been underserved by our health services.’

The register’s annual report stated: ‘Partly reflecting increasing population and average age, the number of new cancer cases increased almost year on year during most of the period 1994 to 2015.

‘However, numbers of new cases registered slowed markedly from 2011 in males and less markedly in females from 2010.’

While the overall cancer incidence rate grew, the rate for men has declined, according to the report.

It stated: ‘After accounting for population growth and age structure, this translated into a statistically significant 2% annual decline in the male cancer incidence rate during 2011 to 2015.’

This reflects declining rates in prostate and lung cancers.

The report also said that survival rates are on the rise, stating: ‘For invasive cancers (excluding the less generally less serious non-melanoma skin cancers), overall five-year net survival has increased from 44% for patients diagnosed during the 1994 to 1998 period to 61% for those diagnosed during 2009-2013.

Over the same 20 years, five-year survival for colorectal cancer has increased from 50% to 63%, for lung cancer from 9% to 18%, for female breast cancer from 72% to 81%, for prostate cancer from 66% to 92%, and by substantial amounts for many other cancer types.’

Separately, the rates of melanoma increased in both males and females, and the mortality rate for this disease in both sexes has also increased steadily and significantly, according to the National Cancer Registry.