05/12/2013

NI Highest Breast Cancer Survival In UK

Northern Ireland has the highest breast cancer survival rates in the UK and Ireland, according to research by Queen's University.

The data for Northern Ireland was provided by the Queen’s Northern Ireland Cancer Registry to the EUROCARE 5 study.

The research is part of a European-wide study into cancer survival rates.

It found that survival rates for breast cancer in Northern Ireland were 81.9%, compared with 79% in the Republic of Ireland, 79.3% in England, 78.2% in Wales and 78.5% in Scotland.

The overall survival rate for breast cancer across Europe is 82.4%.

The study found cancer survival rates are improving across Europe but still vary widely between European countries.

Dr Anna Gavin, Director of Queen's Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, said: "While this study shows that cancer survival has improved in Northern Ireland and across Europe there is still a lot of work to be done. Survival among the elderly remains poor and late diagnosis is dragging our survival rates down. Survival rates of tobacco related cancers remains very low, and therefore efforts to reduce smoking need to continue. Reports like these show the value of data from high quality cancer registries like the one based at Queen’s University and funded by the Public Health Agency."

(IT/CD)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 July 2008
NI Has Best Cancer Survival Rates In The UK
Northern Ireland has the best cancer survival rates in the UK, a study of over 31 countries has shown. Data on 1.9 million cancer patients diagnosed in 1991/94 and followed up until 1999 was analysed, comparing five-year survival of breast, colon, rectum and prostate cancers.
04 October 2007
Improvement In NI Cancer Survival Rates
Cancer survival rates for patients in Northern Ireland has risen, according to a new report. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR), which is part of Queens University School of Medicine, examined every cancer case in Northern Ireland between 1993 and 2004.
22 May 2019
NI Cancer Patients May Rise By 60%
The number of new cancer patients in Northern Ireland could rocket by over 60% before 2035 if rigorous action is not taken now, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has warned.
07 November 2008
UCF Targets Cancer Awareness
The signs and symptoms of Northern Ireland's biggest cancer killer are being highlighted by a local charity this week with the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) using national 'Lung Cancer Awareness Month' as a springboard to target local people.
28 February 2012
New Study Reveals More People Surviving Leukaemia
New study reveals more people surviving leukaemia and pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland. The first audit of leukaemia treatment and survival in Northern Ireland by the Cancer Registry (NICR) at Queen’s University Belfast has shown that survival rates for the disease here are at the highest levels since data collection began in 1993.