A new report outlining the best treatments for breast, ovarian and cervical cancer has been published today by the Women's Health Council.
It says these cancers are among the ten most common cancers affecting women and there is a relatively high mortality rate compared to other western European countries.
The report says that for breast cancer having radiotherapy after surgery reduces the risk of local recurrence of breast cancer by two thirds and should be started as soon as possible after surgery.
For cervical cancer, it says that chemo-radiation, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, improves survival by 10% compared to treatment with chemotherapy alone.
In the case of ovarian cancer, the report says that that the survival rate following fertility-conserving surgery can be as high as 98% after five years.
Director of the Council Dr Geraldine Luddy said that decisions on the best treatments are complex and much depends on the type of cancer and the woman's individual profile.
