‘Wake-up call’ as number of cancer cases rises to nearly 45,000 a year
NEW figures showing rising cancer numbers in Ireland should serve as wake-up call, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
Latest numbers released today by National Cancer Registry Ireland reveal that almost 45,000 new cancers and related tumours are now detected annually in this country, with the disease claiming more than 9,000 lives every year.
The chances of surviving cancer in Ireland are continuing to rise, and almost twothirds of men and women will beat the illness, but we are still lagging behind many other countries, the new report warns.
The report from the registry, which tracks the disease here, found Ireland’s survival ranking for breast cancer – which affects more than 3,000 people a year – did not improve between 2000 and 2014 and that Ireland was in the bottom half of the survival league table during this period.
Also no progress was made during the same period on Ireland’s survival ranking for bowel cancer.
The report shows that almost 45,000 cancers including non-melanoma skin cancer and non-invasive tumours are diagnosed here annually. During 2018-2020, the National Cancer Registry estimates there were, on average, 24,793 cancers – excluding non-melanoma skin cancer and non-invasive tumours – diagnosed annually in Ireland.
This includes 13,152 men and 11,641 women. The lifetime risk of being diagnosed with an invasive cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, is one in two for both men and women.
The most common cancers by way of annual incidence are non-melanoma cancer affecting 12,114 patients. Prostate is next at 3,890 followed by breast cancer affecting 3,704 people. Bowel cancer is diagnosed in 2,819 patients and lung cancer affects 2,753 people.
Survival rates for non-melanoma skin cancer are at 99pc and they are at 92pc for prostate cancer. Breast cancer has an 84pc survival rate.
However, it is 64pc for bowel cancer and 20pc for lung cancer.
Cancer is still the most common cause of death in Ireland, claiming an average of 9,063 lives annually. This rises to 9,280 deaths when non-invasive tumours are taken into account between 2005-2017.
Lung cancer is the biggest killer followed by bowel, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Commenting on the figures the Irish Cancer Society said they were a “wake-up call”.
Rachel Morrogh, the organisation’s Director of Advocacy, said: “The updated figures come amid an extraordinarily difficult year for those affected by cancer, during which the lack of resilience in the health system was exposed and patients experienced increased levels of stress and worry due to disrupted services during the pandemic.
“This latest report shows that cancer continues to be the leading cause of death in Ireland, with the number of cases expected to as much as double in the next 25 years. The cancer system must be properly resourced now to ensure it can meet this increased demand for services.”
She added: “We need to be ambitious in our response to these trends, and that means committing to improving every level of cancer care.
“It is more essential than ever that the public be made aware of the actions they can take to improve their chances of avoiding a cancer diagnosis, and the massive personal toll it can take as well as the broader financial costs.”
The HSE said last week that up to 2,000 cancers may have been missed as a result of disruption caused by Covid-19.