Cancer cases increasing by 300 a year

The National Cancer Registry, in its latest report, to be launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheal Martin, on October 14th, shows that the number of cancer cases in Ireland continues to rise, increasing the pressure on cancer services. Of the common cancers, cancer of the lung and breast in women are increasing by about 3% a year, and lymphoma and cancer of the prostate by 5% a year in men.

Deaths from cancer are increasing at a much slower rate, suggesting an improvement in survival for Irish cancer patients.

Cancer is a major cause of premature death in Ireland and is responsible for the loss of over 100,000 years of life each year. One-sixth of this total, 18,000 years, is due to lung cancer.

In 1999, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer accounted for over 40,000 hospital admissions, and over 300,000 days stay in hospital. Bowel (colorectal) cancer accounted for over 45,000 (15%) of all these hospital days, lung cancer for over 30,000 and breast cancer for just under 30,000.