Vol. 539 No. 3
150 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of incidents per thousand of the population of the various forms of cancer here in the past 12 months and in each of the European Union member states in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19507/01]
152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the degree to which comparisons have been made between Ireland and other European Union member states regarding the levels of various forms of cancers; the contributory factors in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19509/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 152 together.
It is not possible to provide information on the incidence of cancer in Ireland over the past 12 months as requested. The nature of the cancer registration process is such that statistics cannot be issued in respect of any given year until adequate time is given to allow all cases diagnosed in that year to be registered. This information is made available by the National Cancer Registry Ireland in its report entitled Cancer in Ireland, Incidence and Mortality. The most recent year of such a report is 1997 and it is hoped that the 1998 report will be published in the near future.
As I have previously explained to the Deputy on foot of his previous parliamentary question dated 4 April 2001 on this matter, comparisons between this country and other European countries are mainly based on the EUCAN database of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the WHO, which gives estimates of cancer for all EU countries. The most recent year for which European age standardised incidence rates are available for all EU member states is 1995 and detailed analyses of these figures are given in annual reports of the National Cancer Registry.
I have already sent the Deputy tables giving the total number of estimated cases for each EU country for 1995, the number of cases per 100,000 population, the number of cases per 100,000 population, adjusted for age, the rank of each EU country within the EU and the national rate as a percentage of the EU average. The data show that cancer incidence in Ireland for the major cancers is 3% above the EU average, is highest in Europe for colorectal cancer – large bowel, 24% above average for breast cancer, 15% above average for prostate cancer and close to the average for lung cancer. Variations in the occurrence of cancers between member states may relate to variations in health behaviours such as cigarette smoking, dietary factors, alcohol consumption, as well as genetic and racial factors. It is vital that our focus is both on the prevention of cancer where possible and on early and appropriate intervention for those who develop cancer. My Department, through the implementation of the health promotion strategy, is attempting to reduce the impact of adverse health behaviours. My Department is also implementing the national cancer strategy and other strategies which have arisen from it such as the symptomatic breast disease services report which provides for high quality services through centres of excellence for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Question No. 151 answered with Question No. 149.
Question No. 152 answered with Question No. 150.
