"Phone Awakening": Cancer is the deadliest in Ireland

Cancer has overtaken heart disease for the first time and has become the deadliest in Ireland.

The annual report of the National Cancer Registry based on 41,080 new patients were diagnosed with the disease last year.

Skin cancers other than melanoma, prostate cancer and bad cancer were the most commonly diagnosed cancers.

The total number of cancers diagnosed each year has increased by about 85% since the mid-1990s, mainly because of population growth and aging.

The cancer incidence projections suggest an additional doubling of the annual number of cases between 2015 and 2045.

However, survival has improved markedly for all cancers and for the most common types of cancer since the mid-1990s.

Overall net survival over five years increased from 40% for men in 1994-1998 to 62% in 2010-2014.

For women, five-year net survival increased from 48% in 1994-1998 to 60% in 2010-2014.

In response to the numbers, Averil Power of the Irish Cancer Society said it was an "awakening" that should prompt immediate action.

"Although these projections are bleak, they should not become a reality," she said. "By improving our lifestyles and using free screening, each of us can dramatically reduce our risk of getting cancer.

"Four out of ten cancers are preventable. We can all reduce our risk of cancer by eating healthy, exercising and limiting our consumption of alcohol. Smokers can quit smoking with the support of services such as the

She called for more measures to address health inequalities.

"Disadvantaged groups are even more likely to get cancer and die of cancer than more privileged groups – we do not defend it.

"We will continue to demand better access to cancer testing for all, increased participation in screening programs and the absence of barriers to seeing a doctor.

"Together, these actions could save thousands of lives in the years to come," she concluded.

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