THE number of new cancer cases in Ireland is up to double the European average for some of the most common forms of the disease.
Figures just published show the number of new diagnoses of prostate cancer in Irish men was twice the European average last year, while the number of new lung cancer cases in Irish women was 86% above average.
New breast cancer cases in Irish women also ran substantially above average at 40% higher than the European norm, and the overall number of new diagnoses of all forms of cancer in Ireland was 21% above average.
Overall, the number of deaths from cancer in Ireland equalled the European average but there were significant disparities where some cancers were concerned. Deaths from lung cancer among Irish women were 73% higher than average and deaths from prostate cancer among Irish men were 40% above the norm.
The statistics, published in the Annals of Oncology medical journal, were compiled by the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer, headed by Scottish cancer expert, Professor Peter Boyle.
They provide figures for all 27 EU member states and the rest of Europe, totalling 39 countries.
According to Prof Boyle’s report, over 3.2 million new cancer cases were diagnosed across the region in 2006 and 1.7 million people died from the disease.
The number of new cases was 10% higher than the last statistics compiled in 2004 and Prof Boyle warned the upward trend was set to continue — chiefly due to the increasing average age of the population.
“The increased burden of cancer incidence underlines the necessity of taking urgent action on cancer control in Europe,” he said.
He called for greater efforts to reduce smoking, improve diet and increase physical exercise, but he also urged more widespread screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer, as well as cancers of the colon and rectum (colorectal).
The national roll-out of the BreastCheck screening programme is not yet complete, while a proposal for a colorectal screening programme is only beginning to be drawn up and no decision is likely for several years.
Prof Boyle said screening for colorectal cancer had been shown to be effective. “Organised colorectal cancer screening programmes should be implemented throughout the continent,” he said. Colorectal cancers are 12% more numerous in Ireland than the European average, although death rates are 2% higher.
Irish women appear more vulnerable than men when it comes to comparisons with their European counterparts. But Irish men were less likely to die from cancer than their European counterparts. Deaths from cancer among Irish women were 16% over the norm, while deaths among Irish men were below average.
By Caroline O’Doherty
