Lung cancer is almost entirely preventable yet it is still the most deadly form of the disease in Ireland, an international conference warned today.
Over 400 cancer experts, who are gathered in Dublin to examine new treatments, stressed that 95 per cent of lung cancer cases could be avoided as they were caused by smoking.
The international conference, hosted by the British Thoracic Oncology Group and sponsored by the Iriish Cancer Society (ICS), heard that people need to be continuously educated on the dangers of smoking as the key risk factor.
The society found the people most at risk of lung cancer were those who begin smoking in adolescence. The most recent statistics from the National Cancer Registry show that there were 1,618 cases of lung cancer in Ireland in 2000 - with the overall five-year survival rate standing at just 10 per cent.
The ICS said a high-risk individual was someone who was aged 50 years or over with a smoking history of at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years.
However, experts warned an international conference that survival rates for lung cancer patients will not improve until all sufferers are treated in specialist units or hospitals dedicated to tackling the disease.
Dr Ken O'Byrne, a consultant medical oncologist at St James Hospital, said: "Cancer multidisciplinary teams work to get the best possible outcome for the patient, both for cure and quality of life and the touchstone in Irish cancer services should be nothing less than this.
"Standards of care should follow agreed national guidelines, reflecting international best practice and modern advances."
The senior consultant said that cancer care teams should include a specialist lung cancer surgeon, an oncologist or a radiotherapist, a pathologist, specialist nurses and other support staff.
PA