New cancer cases to cost €440m

More than 15,000 new cases of cancer in Ireland this year will cost the country €440m, new figures revealed today.

Research by cycling star Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong foundation warned of the crippling economic cost of treating patients in hospital, buying expensive drugs and loss of earnings and carers’ fees.

According to the study, the Global Burden of Cancer, the disease will cost some €213bn for the world as a whole.

The survey also highlights a €150bn spending gap for cancer treatment in 2009, with high-income countries making up 94% of global expenditure on the illness.

Launching the report in Dublin at an international cancer summit organised by Livestrong, Armstrong said tackling the disease needed to become a worldwide priority.

“There is obviously an economic impact and I think we have to shift the way that we view this fight,” he said.

“We have to change the approach. It’s no longer about spending money, it’s actually investing in the health and wellness of our communities and our countries.”

The report estimates there will be 12.9 million new cancer cases worldwide this year – a figure expected to soar to 27 million by 2030.

Just 5% of the world’s resources for cancer are currently spent in developing countries, which will see almost half of all new cancer cases this year.

Over 500 politicians, health officials and business leaders have gathered in Dublin for the Livestrong summit to work out a global strategy for fighting the disease.

Armstrong, who successfully battled testicular cancer, launched the three-day event after pulling out of the Tour of Ireland bike race on Sunday amid treacherous weather conditions.

“Nobody’s going to have walked away from this summit and have cured this disease, but I think we can walk away with an idea of how to effect change,” the seven-time Tour de France winner said.

Health Minister Mary Harney said action was needed to tackle the spending shortfall in developing countries.

“I think the only way to deal with the issue is to deal with it at a global level through the United Nations,” she said.

“Access to drugs that are available has to be a big issue for the UN, and it can only be tackled at a global level. No single country can deal with that issue alone.”

Ms Harney added that despite the current economic downturn, the Government would continue to invest in fighting the disease.

“You can’t just put cancer treatments in place when you’ve got good times. You’ve got to reorganise your resources,” she said.

“It’s the major issue of trying to allocate resources to the best treatment, based on evidence.”