No equality in cancer treatment

CANCER sufferers living in disadvantaged areas are not doing as well in the health care system as those from more affluent areas, Minister for Health Mary Harney has confirmed.

She was speaking at the launch of a report which revealed that women living in better-off areas are more likely to develop breast cancer, but that those living in deprived areas are less likely to survive the disease.

Women and Cancer in Ireland 1994-2001 was compiled by the Women's Health Council and the National Cancer Registry. The report's authors said research should be carried out to determine whether this is due to lifestyle or access to screening, such as current costs of smear tests.