Expert denies Irish cancer rates highest in EU

AN Irish cancer expert has dismissed the findings of a European survey claiming the country has the highest cancer rates in the European Union.

The director of the National Cancer Registry, Dr Harry Comber, said the most reliable data showed Ireland ranked fifth in cancer incidence in the EU.

"A recent Eurobarometer survey has been quoted as showing Ireland has the highest rate of cancer in the EU. This report entitled Health, Food and Alcohol and Safety was based on an opinion poll and shows much higher variation in cancer rates between countries than actually exists," Dr Comber said.

Dr Comber said there were far better sources of information for determining cancer rates than opinion surveys.

"The most reliable data on cancer in Europe, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), shows that overall cancer incidence in Ireland is fifth highest in Europe.

"For men we are ninth highest and for women third highest. Our ranking with regard to cancer deaths is similar. There is no evidence cancer rates in Ireland exceed those in other countries by as much as suggested by the survey," he said.

The survey found our cancer rates with 5.5% of people in Ireland claiming they suffer from some form of the disease were twice the EU average of 2.6%.

Dr Comber said the figures for number of patients on treatment was also inconsistent with the numbers reporting they had cancer.

The survey found Irish people are least likely to have seen a doctor in the last year.

isits to medical specialists were low, with most people more likely to visit a GP. Last year 74.3% visited their GP, against just 17.5% visiting specialists.