Cancer cases ‘to rise by 50% in next 15 years’

NEW cancer cases are expected to increase by 50% over the next 15 years, the Irish Cancer Society announced yesterday

An estimated 22,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Ireland this year, and with the number of cases increasing by 1.5% every year, the figure could rise to 34,000 by 2020.

The Irish Cancer Society yesterday also announced an expansion of advice and information services to help patients and their families cope with the ordeal of cancer diagnosis and the often gruelling treatment involved.