Cancer in Ireland 1994-2004: a comprehensive report: a report of cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival in the North and South of Ireland: 1994-2004

Cancer is a major public health issue in Ireland and is a considerable burden on the individuals who develop the disease, the families and friends of cancer patients and on the health services that treat and care for such patients. However in many ways cancer is an extremely misunderstood disease with the common perception that it is unavoidable and is almost always fatal, both misconceptions adding to the stress those with a connection to the disease must feel. Fortunately over the last several decades a much greater understanding of how cancer develops suggests that a high proportion of cancers in the population could be prevented simply be leading healthier lifestyles while continuous improvements in available screening, treatments and diagnostic methods mean that at the beginning of the twenty-first century, approximately half of the people diagnosed with cancer in Europe survive at least five years.While some measure of hope rests with that statement, the fact that the terms “half of” and “five-years” are used rather than the terms “100%” and “completely cured” demonstrate that there is a long way to go in the fight against cancer.