3rd All-Ireland Cancer Statistics Report to be Released this Year
The 3rd All-Ireland Cancer Statistics Report entitled Cancer in Ireland 1994-2004: A Comprehensive Report documents cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival on the island of Ireland. Dr. Harry Comber, one of the report authors, said, “This is the first time we have been able to compare treatment differences in addition to the usual incidence, mortality, and survival. Surprisingly, even though we are dealing with two different health care systems there is remarkably little variation in treatment, with improvements over time in both jurisdictions. While the number of cancers has increased due to population increases, population aging, and increased detection of prostate and breast cancer, the number of cancer deaths has fallen. This comparative analysis will point to areas for further research to improve cancer prevention and standardize care for patients.”
Below are some highlights from the report:
INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY
- Each year 10,999 male and 10,510 female cancers were diagnosed with 5,921 male and 5,340 female cancer deaths annually.
- Incidence rates were lower in Northern Ireland by 10.0% for males, the difference a result of higher levels of prostate cancer in the Republic of Ireland. Female rates were 2.2% lower in Northern Ireland than the Republic of Ireland.
- Incidence rates increased for males by 1.8% per year during 1999-2004 and for females by 0.8% per year during 1994-2004.
- Cancer death rates fell between 1994 and 2004 by 1.4% per year for males and 1.0% per year for females.
- Cancer death rates were 3.9% lower for males and 3.6% lower for females in Northern Ireland during 2000-2004 than in the Republic of Ireland.
TREATMENT
- During 2001, surgery was the most common form of treatment for stomach, colorectal, breast, cervical and ovarian cancer, with hormone therapy most commonly used for prostate cancer and radiotherapy the most common treatment for oesophageal and lung cancer.
- During 2001, Northern Ireland had a higher proportion of oesophageal, cervical, and prostate cancer patients receiving no tumor-directed treatment, while the proportion was higher in the Republic of Ireland for colon cancer.
SURVIVAL AND PREVALENCE
- Five-year survival was higher for females (51.6%) than males (46.8%) for patients diagnosed in 2000-2004.
- Five-year survival in Ireland improved by 3.9% for males and 1.9% for females between 1994-1996 and 1997-1999.
- Five-year survival for males diagnosed in 2000-2004 was 5.2% higher in the Republic of Ireland than Northern Ireland. There was no significant difference between the two countries for females or for males when prostate cancer was excluded.
The Minister of the Department of Health and Children of Ireland, Mary Harney, T.D., introduced the 3rd All-Ireland Cancer Statistics Report during an official ceremony that took place on 24 April 2009 in Dublin. The full report will be available online in mid-2009 and a summary will be published in booklet form later this year.