The National Cancer Registry’s 2022 Annual Statistical Report: Cancer in Ireland. 1994 – 2020 includes updated statistics on cancer incidence, mortality and survival for patients diagnosed in Ireland 1994 – 2020.

Key findings include:

• Over 50% increase in numbers of cancer survivors compared with a decade ago as, for the first time, the number of patients living after an invasive cancer diagnosis has exceeded the 200,000 mark, equivalent to 1 in 24 people in Ireland. This reflects the ongoing improvement in cancer survival.
• More complete data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses indicates that the pandemic resulted in a 10% reduction in cancer diagnoses (based on all cancers) or 11% (based on microscopically verified cancers) in 2020, compared to what was expected that year.
• Median age at diagnosis for all cancer combined (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) was 69 years in men and 67 years in women, with little change over time.  The median age at death for all invasive cancers combined was 74 years in both men and women, an increase compared with the median of 72 years in both men and women during 1994-1998, consistent with improved cancer survival.
• Further evidence of improvements in colorectal cancer control in men, as this cancer drops from 2nd to 3rd most common cause of cancer deaths in men.