Cork men face higher risk of testicular cancer

CORK men are at significantly greater risk of developing testicular cancer than in any other part of the country due to reasons which may be linked to “industrial pollutants”.

A 13-year study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science (IJMS) has confirmed the county is suffering from an unexplained spike in the life-threatening condition.

Speaking at the launch of the Mercy University Hospital foundation’s three-year charity funding plan, consultant urologist Dr Paul Sweeney said the area has a testicular cancer rate 27% higher than the national average. While the senior physician said he did not want “to scare people”, he confirmed the industrialisation of some parts of the county is a genuine potential cause for the rate.

According to the research by the National Cancer Registry and members of Cork University Hospital’s department of urology, a total of 1,731 testicular cancer diagnoses were made in Ireland between 1994 and 2007.

Of these, 251 — just over one in every seven — were recorded in Cork, 531 in Dublin, 86 in Kildare, 73 in Galway, 58 in Kerry and 50 in Mayo, among others.

A total of 186 of the Cork cases were in people living outside the city.

Dublin had a higher total number of diagnoses, but Cork’s percentage per head of population was significantly higher, marking the region as a serious danger spot for the cancer.

Galway and Meath had the lowest population percentage rates of any part of the country.

Although forms of cancer are generally linked to issues such as a lack of exercise and teenage obesity, among other factors, the study found no evidence that this was the reason for the Cork rate. It added that people in more comfortable socio- economic groups were far more likely to develop the condition during the 13-year period.

“There appears to be a link with higher socio-economic status and possibly industrial pollutants,” the study concluded.

While an average of 180 testicular cancer cases are diagnosed every year here, 95% are successfully treated. The condition mainly affects males aged 15 to 45.