Important Issues that have emerged from the Cancer in Ireland 1994-1998 Report
Several important issues emerged from the Cancer in Ireland 1994-1998 report subtitled "Incidence, Mortality, Treatment and Survival". The key facts drawn from this report are:
- Ireland had the lowest overall cancer incidence in Britain and Ireland. The Eastern Health Board had the highest overall cancer incidence in Ireland; this was true for both sexes and was statistically significant.
- Ireland had the lowest incidence of breast cancer within Britain and Ireland; the incidence was close to the EU average. The incidence of breast cancer was significantly higher than the national average in the Eastern Health Board.
- The incidence of prostate cancer in Ireland was higher than the European average and was second highest after Scotland in Britain and Ireland. It was significantly above the national average in the Eastern Health Board.
- Ireland had the lowest incidence of bladder cancer in Britain and Ireland. For males, the incidence of bladder cancer was significantly risen in the Eastern Health Board.
- Ireland had the lowest incidence of lung cancer for both males and females within Britain and Ireland. The incidence was below the European average for males but above the European average for females. For both males and females the incidence of lung cancer was significantly higher than the national average in the Eastern Health Board.
- The incidence of colorectal cancer was higher in Ireland than the European average for both males and females. Among the health boards, the incidence of colorectal cancer was significantly higher than the national average in the Southern Health Board in females and the Eastern Health Board in males.
- Ireland had the second lowest incidence of stomach cancer in Britain and Ireland, below the European average. The North Eastern Health Board had a significantly higher incidence of stomach cancer in females, while the incidence in the Eastern Health Board was significantly higher in males.
- Ireland had one of the highest rates of melanoma in Britain and Ireland, second only to Scotland for females and Northern Ireland for males. The incidence was higher than the European Union average.
Basic facts
- During the five years covered by this report, almost 20,000 new cases of cancer and 7,500 cancer deaths occurred every year.
- The commonest cancers were those of skin, large bowel, lung, breast (in women) and prostate (in men).
- Overall, men and women had similar risks of developing cancer, although men were more likely to die from it. Older people were much more likely to develop cancer, with the risk doubling in every successive decade of life. Most patients (60%) were aged over 65 at the time of diagnosis and the majority (72%)of cancer deaths also occurred in those over 65.
- One death in every four was due to cancer. However, in women under 65, almost half of all deaths (44%)were due to cancer.
- Between 1994 and 1998 there was no significant change in the risk of developing or dying from cancer. Although some cancers showed trends of increase or decrease with time, the overall pattern was of an unchanged risk.
- Cancer incidence in Ireland was quite similar to that in neighboring countries. Overall, and for most common cancers, cancer rates here were lower than in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, higher than in England and close to EU averages. Exceptions were breast cancer, where our risk was lower than that of the neighboring countries, and lung cancer in women, for which our risk was well above EU average.
- The majority of patients had their cancer removed surgically; the percentage having surgery varied from 93%of patients with melanoma to 15%with cancer of the lung. There were no major differences between men and women in treatment, but older patients were much less likely to have cancer-specific treatment. Treatment also seemed to depend on the health board areas in which patients lived.
- Overall survival from cancer was 43% and was generally better for women. The best survival from the common cancers was for women with melanoma, 87%of who were alive after five years. The worst survival was for men with lung cancer, only 8% of whom were alive after five years.