Irish cancer cases to rise 75% over next 20 years, says report

Irish people can expect to see the number of cancer cases rise by 75 per cent over the next 20 years, major research published yesterday suggests.

World Cancer Report 2014, published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialist cancer agency of the World Health Organisation and authored by more than 250 leading scientists, said that, globally, cancer was growing "at an alarming pace". It called for the urgent implementation of efficient prevention strategies to curb the disease.

In 2012 there were 14.1 million new cases of cancer around the globe but experts from the agency have predicted that over the next two decades, the number of new cases each year will rise to 25 million. Over the same period the number of deaths caused by cancer is predicted to rise from 8.2 million a year to 13 million annually.

Commitment
Agency director Dr Christopher Wild added that "more commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally."

The report highlighted a growing “cancer divide”. It said as a consequence of growing and ageing populations, developing countries are disproportionately affected by the increasing numbers of cancers. More than 60 per cent of the world’s cases occur in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, and these regions account for about 70 per cent of the world’s cancer deaths, a statistic made worse by the lack of early detection and access to treatment.

Acknowledging the critical role of tobacco control in reducing cancer incidence, the authors called for similar approaches to be evaluated in other areas, “notably consumption of alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, and in limiting exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogenic risks, including air pollution”.

Healthy lifestyle
The Irish Cancer Society said despite the rise in cancer incidence, it is possible to reduce individual risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle."By eating plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and pulses, a person can reduce the risk of cancer. Studies show that up to 40 per cent of cancers, in particular colon cancer, and up to 30 per cent of breast cancers, can be prevented by being physically active."

Launching a “bill of rights” for cancer patients in Strasbourg, Prof Patrick Johnston of Queen’s University Belfast, said “this increasing cancer burden will impact not only on patients and their families, but will also be a significant issue for healthcare systems and for the future economic competitiveness of Europe”.