Cancer services - People die as Government dithers

THERE are about 11,000 cancer deaths in this country each year and more than 19,000 new cases annually. The number of people suffering from cancer is expected to grow and will be 41% up on the 1993 figure by 2015.

This will involve a major increase in the number of people requiring oncology treatment for skin, prostate, lung and breast cancers.

In 1993, a breast screening service was introduced in Northern Ireland and the death rate from breast cancer has been cut by over 20%.