Delays in cancer treatment are 'causing avoidable deaths', Irish Cancer Society warns

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025 - 00:05

Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent

Delays in cancer care for breast, lung, and prostate patients are causing avoidable deaths, with patients in some counties much more impacted than others, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.

Its analysis of new data from the National Cancer Control Programme shows, for the first time, differences between cancer centres.

The target for referrals to Urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics is to have 95% seen within 10 days. However just 76.3% of referrals hit this between March last year and February this year.

In addition Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power warned of regional differences.

In Letterkenny the rate was 59.8% with a low of 5% in December 2024. This compares with Limerick where 97% were seen and 100% in Waterford.

"Research published in the British Medical Journal has found that every four-week delay in starting cancer treatment can increase mortality by 10%. So, there is no question that these delays are causing avoidable deaths," she warned.

Almost all men diagnosed with prostate cancer at stage one will survive but only half of those diagnosed at stage four.

The data shows variations even within strong-performing sites. Monthly data shows while Cork reached 82.8% of these patients referred to rapid access clinics during all of last year, this dropped to 21.9% in August last year.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ireland. In four sites they missed the target by small numbers, and each linked this to capacity issues. One - Waterford – said it was a data issue.

Dr Michael McCarthy, Irish Society of Medical Oncology president and consultant medical oncologist in Galway warned: "I see the human cost of the postcode lottery in Irish cancer care every day.

Once chemotherapy is prescribed, the National Cancer Strategy states that it should start within 15 working days. The reality in Galway is that patients are now typically waiting seven to eight weeks for their first session.

Over 96% of Waterford patients started radiotherapy within target times, delivered in the private UPMC Whitfield hospital.

Funding to upgrade ageing equipment and build more units is vital for Budget 2026, the cancer society urged.

In Tralee, it highlighted a plan to build a dedicated cancer unit that was signed off on in December 2023 but has not started. In Limerick, it called for greater urgency in buying a PET scanner and for Cork more radiology facilities and equipment.

Other feedback indicated shortages of GPs in the community as well as of nurses, radiologists, consultants and radiation therapists in hospitals.

When Ziva Cussen, 23, went to her GP in early 2023 with breast cancer concerns, she was referred to a symptomatic breast clinic within five weeks.

Then, however, she said: “I think I got lost in the system." In July she was given an ultrasound appointment for October.

“I was left waiting seven and a half months for an ultrasound,” she said.

Ziva Cussen, Drogheda, was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer aged 21 in 2023. She faced a delay of 7.5 months in getting an ultrasound, and she questions if this impacted her.

“It’s a crazy amount of time to be left waiting for a scan that literally could have been done on the day. It’s less than 10 minutes, that scan.”

She is now undergoing treatment for advanced breast cancer.

“There’s just a lot of delays in the system,” she said. “And being told ‘we’re under resourced, and not enough staff’ — that’s not a good enough reason, I think. People can be left waiting seven and a half months, it’s costing people their lives.”

Ms Cussen is a co-founder of ‘Too Young to be Heard'. They want the age of public breast screening to be lowered among other age-related reforms.

The data was shared with the Irish Cancer Society through the Regional Health Forum South and Cllr Roger Kennedy.

The HSE National Cancer Control Programme, in response to these concerns, called for certainty around funding to support services.

It highlighted reforms already started, but said: “To sustain this progress, consistency and assurance around future funding would be helpful.

“The HSE recognises the critical importance of early intervention and the impact that delays can have on patients and their families.”

Cancer survival is improving in Ireland, a spokeswoman added.

“Today, over 220,000 people in Ireland are living with or after cancer, which is a 50% increase compared to a decade ago," she said.

The Cancer Strategy (2017 to 2026) allocated €90m for services development, including hiring the equivalent of 800 full-time workers.

A spokesman for HSE Midwest including UHL said plans for a PET scanner are being developed, “subject to funding availability in 2025/2026".

The cancer centre has improved access to the Breast Unit with additional waiting list clinics.

An increase in delays last year in accessing systemic therapy was due to a rise in demand, coupled with staffing challenges.

“The recruitment of additional staff has had a positive impact on treatment times. Six consultant oncologists are now in post,” he said.

A new system for all cancer patients means a faster start to treatment, he added.

“Data for May 2025 shows 87% of patients commenced treatment within 15 working days,” he said.

The nine who did not start on time were either too sick or delayed for other personal reasons.

Recruitment is also continuing across HSE Southwest for Cork and Kerry. It shortlisted 18 radiation therapists in June for CUH to fill 11.5 full-time roles.

Extending bowel cancer screening to over 50s would reduce deaths but cost up to €66m, Hiqa says