Charity aims to cut cancer gap with local visits

A leading charity is going into communities with “worryingly high” cancer-related deaths in a bid to reduce the disease risk.

The Irish Cancer Society wants to close a cancer gap that has emerged between poorer and more affluent areas.

Cancer-related deaths in some socially disadvantages areas are double those of more affluent areas.

* Incidence of head and neck cancer in most deprived areas is 1.7 times that of least deprived

* Stomach cancer is 1.4 times higher in socially deprived areas

* Men in areas with the poorest education levels have 32% greater risk of lung cancer

* Lung cancer is higher among women where there is high unemployment, poor education levels, and high proportion of elderly living alone

* Women living in areas of high unemployment have a 49% greater risk of head and neck cancer.

ICS chairman John Kennedy said a lot more was known now about how people could avoid cancer.

“We need to get this information across better,” said Prof Kennedy at the launch of the society’s five-year strategy last night in Dublin.

“As a nation, we are smoking and drinking too much, are overweight and not taking enough exercise. Changing our habits can cut our cancer rate over time and we will be showing how.”

In a new departure, the society is going to extend its reach into communities with a high cancer incidence and poorer survival rates.

The strategy, which coincides with the society’s 50th anniversary, will see the society initially take on two communities next year and see how they can get people to reduce their cancer risk.

ICS head of services Donal Buggy said the society would be focusing on initiatives that helped people to take ownership of their health and make lifestyle commitments

The ICS is hoping their community projects will be taken on by the HSE and replicated throughout the country.

Mr Buggy said the pilot programmes would be based on what worked internationally and what was proven to work in Ireland.

“The link between smoking and lung cancer is well understood, yet the number of young women [with cancer], particularly those in disadvantaged areas, is increasing,” he said.

“We know what the risk factors are. Now we need to understand what we can do about behaviour change.

“It is a new departure for the ICS to be engaged at a local community level but it is where we believe that we can really make a difference.”

Meanwhile, women aged 25 to 60 are being urged by CervicalCheck — the national cervical screening programme — to check that their smear test is up to date by visiting cervicalcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 454555.

This is European Cervical cancer Prevention Week, and CervicalCheck and the Irish Family Planning Association have teamed up to promote awareness about cervical cancer prevention.