The National Cancer Registry, which collects information on cancer cases and deaths, has said that the incidence of lung cancer has decreased significantly in men but not in women. Publishing its annual report today, the cancer registry said that the disease continues to have a serious effect on the health status of the Irish population, with one in three people developing cancer during their lifetime and one in four people dying from it. Today's report compares cancer statistics from 1994 to 1997, the latest year for which statistics are available. The cancer registry says that there were more than 21,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in 1997 and over 7,500 deaths.
Cancer is primarily a disease of old age, with just a 20% chance of developing it up to the age of 65. However, this figure doubles by age 75, and men are much more likely to die from cancer than women. The report finds that the incidence of cancer in Ireland is at about the midpoint of European incidence rates. The incidence of cancer in the Republic is lower than that found in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but higher than for England. The incidence of skin cancer and cancer of the womb have increased significantly between 1994 and 1997, but this may be due to better screening.
Cancer Registry Chairwoman Dr Elizabeth Keane said that the disease has a striking effect on the health status of people here and it continues to present a formidable burden on patients, their families and healthcare providers.
