Prostate, bowel cancer kills more Irish: report
A cancer atlas of Ireland and Britain, published today, also shows a high rate of cancer of the lip and mouth in the west and north-west possibly linked to fishing and farming.
Director of the National Cancer Registry (NCR), Dr Harry Comber, said the increase was related to sunlight exposure.
"Lip cancer is found in people with outdoor occupations, in fishing more than farming, and while it's not a common type of cancer, its incidence is about 30% higher in the west."
Death rates from brain cancer were much higher in Ireland. A statement from the NCR said: "Very little is known of the causes of brain cancer and there is no apparent explanation for this finding."
The incidence of colorectal (large bowel) cancer rates, for new cases and deaths, is "considerably higher" by about 20% in Ireland and Scotland.
The number of deaths and new cases of lung cancer in men is lower in Ireland than the other four countries. For women the rate of new cases is lower, but death rates are close to those in Britain.
The rate of incidence of new cases of breast cancer in Ireland and Northern Ireland is lower than England, Scotland and Wales, but death rates in Ireland are similar to those in the other countries.
Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, is more common in Ireland and Scotland, but death rates are not much different from the other countries "suggesting detection may be more effective in Ireland and Scotland", the statement said.
The cancer atlas was produced by the British Office of National Statistics, with cancer registries and the vital statistics organisations in Ireland and Britain.
It contains information on new cases and deaths for all common cancers from 1991 to 2000, by health board area in Ireland.
