Figures show new cancer cases to double by 2020
The National Cancer Registry has predicted that the number of new cases diagnosed every year will increase to almost 43,000 over the 20 year period from 2000.
Director of the National Cancer Registry Dr Harry Comber said the figures also showed that the annual increase in new cancer cases was almost 3%.
The latest report from the registry, covering the years 1994 to 2005, showed that the number of new cases increased from 17,148 to 22,775 over that period.
The largest annual increases were cancer of the prostrate (7%), skin melanoma (4%), and breast cancer (2%).
While most of the increases in new cancer cases is due to Ireland’s ageing population, lifestyle choices are also contributing to the rise. Lung cancer in women, which is due to smoking, continues to increase. And melanoma of the skin, which is related to sun exposure, is on the rise.
Cancer of the kidney, breast and uterus have all been linked to being overweight and obese, two conditions that are rapidly increasing in Ireland.
“This gives concern for the future, if the trends in weight gain continue,” warned Dr Comber.
The risk of dying from most cancers has fallen, with the exception of melanoma of the skin, kidney cancer (in men) and cancer of the rectum where the risk was increasing.
Dr Comber pointed out that the risk of dying from cancer had been dropping by about 1.5% a year.
The statistics showed that cancer risk seems to be quite evenly spread throughout the country. While it confirmed earlier impressions of a higher risk for many cancers in Dublin and, to a lesser extent in Cork, none of the geographical differences were big.
The report also showed that the number of patients having chemotherapy and radiotherapy had increased for almost all cancers over the past 12 years.
Between 1995-1998 and 1999-2003 there was a 27% increase in those having chemotherapy and a 24% increase in radiotherapy.
Dr Comber said the increase in cancer treatment seemed to signal a more active and positive approach to the treatment of these cancers that had a relatively poor outlook.
A spokesperson for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS), said the charity was worried about the ability of the health services to cope with the existing incidence of cancer and the predicted increase.
The ICS said there was a need for a national education programme so people could learn how to prevent cancer in the first instance. There was also a need for a national awareness campaign.
Anyone concerned about cancer can contact the National Cancer Helpline at 1800-200700.
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