Health authority reports fall in cancer deaths

Cancer deaths have fallen in the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) area, according to its annual report published today.

Between 1992 and 1999, cancer deaths among men in the region dropped eight per cent, while female deaths from the disease fell nearly ten per cent.

ERHA director of public health Dr Brian O’Herlihy reported particular success with breast cancer rates in women under 65 years of age, which dropped by nearly 20 per cent.

Lung cancer related deaths in men fell by almost a fifth during this eight-year period, but the decline in death rates for women was only 5.5 per cent.

The ERHA reported 586 deaths from lung cancer in 1999, with 158 of those under 65. Lung cancer is the most common cancer killer in the western world.

Data for 2000 also shows newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals increased significantly to 342, up from 209 in 1999.

Dr O’Herlihy pointed to a doubling of the number of HIV-positive heterosexuals as evidence of complacency in the general population and also among high-risk groups such as injecting drug users and homosexuals.

The report recommends reinforcing safe sex messages and targeting HIV/AIDS prevention education at school children. The health authority is also promoting universal linked antenatal HIV testing to minimise mother-to-child transmission.