Cancer report highlights need for screening programmes

The Irish Cancer Society says a new report on poor cancer survival rates in Ireland highlights how vital it is to roll out more national screening programmes.

A study from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that survival rates in Ireland for breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer are among the lowest in the developed world.

According to this research, 58 out of 100 Irish women were alive after being diagnosed with cervical cancer after five years - compared to a rate of 78 per 100 in Norway.

The OECD average is 66 per 100.

While Irish survival rates for breast cancer have improved dramatically in recent years, they are still the third lowest in the OECD.

"Ireland has been slow in rolling out screening programmes," said CEO of the Irish Cancer Society John McCormack.

"Our cervical screening programme started in 2008, some 20 years after it started in the UK.

"We have yet to roll out the bowel cancer screening programme, though there is a commitment from the Government (to do so) in the middle of 2012.

"Early diagnosis is the best way to increase Irish survival rates from cancer."