Concern raised at high cancer rates

Lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the most likely form of the illness to cause death in women, according to the National Cancer Registry.

The registry, which has been collecting data on cancer since 1994, also found the number of cancer cases diagnosed has risen by almost 50 per cent since the mid-1990s. Ireland also ranked highest out of 30 European countries for cases of prostate cancer.

Cancer in Ireland 2011, the registry's annual report, published today, found survival rates from cancers five years after diagnosis had improved over a 10-year period from 1994, from 40 per cent to 55 per cent.

It found the annual average number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women over the three years to 2009 was almost 2,700. The annual average number of lung cancer cases was almost 800. Deaths from the conditions in 2007 totalled 611 and 647 respectively.

A separate report, focusing solely on lung cancer, found that while both the number of cases of the disease and deaths from it were falling in men, they were increasing in women. The largest increase was in women aged under 55. "Lung cancer has now overtaken breast cancer as the cancer most likely to cause death in women," the report found.

The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer for Irish men compared quite favourably with other European countries, while for women the figures were among the highest in Europe.

The report said 90 per cent of lung cancer cases can be directly attributed to smoking.

"If progress is to be made in reducing the incidence of lung cancer in Ireland in the future, renewed efforts must be made to reduce tobacco use, especially in women," the report said.

Outcomes for those diagnosed with the condition have improved, the report found. Some 8 per cent of patients were alive five years after diagnosis, according to 1994-1999 figures, while survival had increased to 11 per cent 10 years later. The report noted the numbers having chemotherapy had doubled over that time.

Men, older patients, smokers and those living in more deprived areas had a poorer survival rate from their cancers, it said.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Harry Comber, director of the registry, said the continuing increase in lung cancer cases and deaths in women, particularly in younger women, was a cause for concern. "This is a cancer which is almost completely preventable," he said.

He also noted the numbers of cancer diagnoses in Ireland, up by almost 50 per cent since the mid-1990s, would place an increased burden on cancer services in years to come. There needed to be "a determined approach" to prevention, he said.

Female breast cancer rates were the fourth highest in Europe.

The report said it was likely the high rates were linked to the development of organised screening in recent years. The high incidence of prostate cancer could also be related to screening, it found, as there had been a very large increase in prostate-specific antigen testing here.

The incidence of colorectal cancer was also higher than the European average.

The Irish Cancer Society said lifestyle factors were influencing increasing cancer rates significantly. Kathleen O'Meara, head of advocacy at the charity, said the increase in the mortality rate from lung cancer was "an extremely worrying development".

She attributed it to the tobacco industry specifically targeting women in marketing campaigns.