Irish still less likely to beat cancer

DESPITE vital treatment breakthroughs, Irish people are still less likely to beat certain types of cancer or still be alive five years after being diagnosed with the condition than our EU counterparts.

New figures revealed by the Department of Health show that while dramatic improvements have been made in Irish healthcare over the past decade, difficulties still remain.

The statistics, detailed in a 10-year study of health trends in this country, highlight how the number of people dying from breast cancer has dropped 20% between 2000 and 2009.