All Ireland cancer atlas 1995-2007

All Ireland cancer atlas 1995-2007
Publication date: 
December, 2011
Cancers: 
Related staff: 
Dr Harry Comber (former staff)
Dr Sandra Deady (former staff)
Prof Linda Sharp (former staff)
Collaborators: 
David Donnelly, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry
Anna Gavin, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry
Avril Hegarty, University of Limerick
Anne-Elie Carsin, CREAL, Barcelona

The first all-Ireland cancer atlas, published by the National Cancer Registry and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, shows major unexplained variations across the island in the risk of most common cancers. The atlas shows that in the period 1995-2007:

  • Coastal and urban areas had a significantly higher risk of both types of skin cancer;
  • Bowel cancer was more common around Cork city and in a band across the north of the island;
  • Lung cancer risk was higher in urban areas (Belfast, Dublin, Derry and Cork) and in the east
  • Prostate cancer risk was much higher in the Republic of Ireland than in N. Ireland
  • Stomach cancer risk was highest in a band running from Dublin to Donegal;

The risk of many cancers was related to the level of socio-economic deprivation in the area.

  • Lung, stomach, head and neck and cervical cancer risk was higher in areas of high unemployment or low educational attainment, while skin, breast and prostate cancer risk was lower in these areas.
  • Cancer risk was higher in more densely populated areas.
  • Cancer risk was higher, for many cancers, in areas with a higher proportion of elderly people living alone.
A web version of the atlas is available here

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