Cancer death rates three times higher in some poor areas

The high rate of cancer incidence and death in poorer communities needs to be tackled as a priority, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

A new map of cancer incidence shows the death rates in some poorer communities in north Dublin is three times that recorded in more affluent neighbourhoods nearby.

The map, complied by the Centre for Health Geoinformatics at NUI Maynooth, shows cancer death rates varied from 381 per 100,000 in Blakestown North-West to 128 per 100,000 in Castleknock South-East.

“Cancer affects all parts of Irish society but some people are more at risk than others and where you live has a huge influence on this. Unfortunately, the more deprived the area, the higher the risk of a person getting and dying from cancer,” said Kathleen O’Meara, head of advocacy and communications at the society.

Often the poorest in society had the greatest difficulty accessing healthcare, she said. In deprived parts of north Dublin, for instance, there is one GP for every 2,500 people, compared to a national average of 1:1,600.

The society is beginning a campaign for the link between health inequalities and cancer to be recognised in the new ten-year National Cancer Strategy, which will be published in 2016.

Authors of the internationally renowned The Spirit Level, Professor Richard Wilkinson and Professor Kate Pickett, also addressed an ICS event this morning. Prof Wilkinson told the society today: "Countries with the biggest income inequality do worse according to almost every quality of life indicator. The more unequal a society, the unhealthier it is".

"Although the amount of income inequality has its greatest effect on rates of problems among the poor, its influence extends to almost all income groups: Societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor are bad for everyone in them - including the well-off. And, unfortunately, Ireland features relatively high on the list for a large income inequality."