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Progress on cancer survival at risk due to Covid-19 disruption, Irish Cancer Society warns

The National Cancer Registry Ireland 2021 report was published today.

IMPROVED CANCER SURVIVAL figures revealed today are being put at serious risk by pandemic-related disruption, the Irish Cancer Society has said. 

The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) 2021 annual report outlines that there is a five-year net survival averaging at 65% for patients diagnosed with cancer between 2014 and 2018. This marks a substantial increase from 20 years previous when the average was just 42%. 

The report presents statistics for the years up to 2019. 

The number of cancer survivors living through or after cancer treatment is continuing to increase year on year, according to the report. At the end of 2019, there were nearly 200,000 patients living after a cancer diagnosis. 

The report confirmed that mortality rates are falling for the four most common cancers – prostate, breast, lung and colorectal – or stabilising for lung cancer in females.

Incidents rates are also falling for both lung and colorectal cancers, in both sexes.

The NCRI has said earlier detection, including through screening, and better treatments are most likely contributing to the fall in cancer mortality while the sustains efforts of those involved in primary cancer prevention, in particular tobacco control, are key factors in the reduction of cancer incidence rates. 

In the report, NCRI director Professor Deirdre warned that the Covid-19 crisis, particularly the first wave in spring 2020, meant that patients postponed doctors’ visits, screening programmes were paused and acute services were reconfigured to reduce footfall in hospitals. 

“There are clear signals that, as expected in Ireland, the number of cancer diagnoses in 2020 will be lower than in previous years,” Professor Murray said.

The Irish Cancer Society has today warned that the improved cancer survival figures revealed today are being put at serious risk by pandemic-related disruption. 

“While it is heartening to hear that progress is being made for devastating cancers like breast, lung and prostate according to latest figures up to 2019, we are very worried that significantly less cancers were diagnosed last year,” Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said. 

“This will present a major challenge for years to come, and is unfortunately no surprise as already struggling cancer services have been stretched to breaking point during the pandemic. Lengthy waiting lists and disruptions to vital diagnostic and screening services are now all too commonplace,” Power said. 

“Patients are telling us that they are terrified of having their treatment delayed given the current spike in Covid case numbers and are very distressed about the worrying consequences to their health from catching the virus, and the further risk of treatment delays that this would bring.

Power said the Society is “particularly concerned about recent surgery cancellations as the ‘non-urgent’ cases of today will only become more serious and difficult to treat the longer they are left, not to mention the mental anguish this causes for patients”.

“The NCRI report shows that as many as one in eight cancers that were predicted to be diagnosed in 2020 were not. Although there has been an encouraging trend of people seeking medical help so far this year, waiting times for diagnostic tests remain too long and these must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” Power added. 

“We would plead with anyone with a cancer concern or symptom to talk to their doctor to call our freephone 1800 200 700 support line without delay, as we do not want potentially treatable cancers to go too far,” she said. 

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    Mute James Fox
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 7:08 AM

    There’s a pandemic of cancer deaths about to begin in this country I’d say. Because of two reasons..covid but equally so true the running of the HSE.
    Let’s see if the journal and other media outlets keep abreast of the daily numbers of people dying and hospitalized because of cancer. I feeling no is the answer.

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    Mute JedBartlett
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 7:14 AM

    @James Fox: Unfortunately, James you might have the usual Covid zealots on shortly to spout their usual line that cancer isn’t contagious.
    What they overlook is that cancer is far more impactful with devastating impacts on all age groups including very young children.

    All families in this country have been affected, and more than likely all will be affected again at some point in the future.

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    Mute ed w
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 8:21 AM

    @James Fox: absolutely, I suspect that a lot of people are going untreated for a variety of illness as it’s just everything covid at the moment.

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    Mute Alan Peters
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 9:57 AM

    @James Fox: my young cousin was diagnosed with leukemia during the pandemic the initial care she received from GP etc was atrocious her GP told her over the phone ‘oh they think you have cancer’ and was charged for it disgusting behaviour

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 6:21 PM

    @Alan Peters: Thats disgraceful poor pet. I hope she’s getting better care now and on the way to recovery.

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    Mute John Harkin
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 7:14 AM

    Scandal.

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