Smoking ban should lower lung cancer rates, report says

The Republic of Ireland's smoking ban should profoundly lower the rates of lung cancer, a new report has claimed.

The 'All Ireland Cancer Statistics Second Report 1998-2000' says that prevention initiatives need to be implemented right across the island in a bid to target urban areas which have the highest incidence.

Launched today at Queen's University Belfast, the collaborative report by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Registry (Ireland) examines data from both regions to assess the cancer incidence and mortality on the island of Ireland.

The report focuses on cancers that are life-threatening, represent a substantial burden to the general population and can be prevented or cured. Additionally, all cancer sites combined, all childhood cancers and lymphoma are profiled since these are often a concern to the public, researchers and policy makers. Each year there are over 19,000 new cancer cases and 11,000 cancer deaths throughout Ireland.

Commenting on the report, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Henrietta Campbell said it proved the importance of cancer registration as an important public health tool. "It provides concrete evidence of the benefits of the National Cancer Institute, Ireland and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry Consortium which aims to promote joint programmes of work.

"This report, the result of several years of collaboration, highlights some areas of success and identifies areas for action to improve cancer outcomes in Ireland. We must take note of its recommendations."

As well as recommending more lung cancer prevention initiatives island-wide, the report also recommends that the Republic increases its breast cancer screening services. While breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women across Ireland, mortality rates in Northern Ireland, where screening programmes are well established, have fallen by more than 20% between 1994 and 2000. In the Republic breast cancer mortality rates were the same in 2000 as they were in 1994.

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