Rising Lung Cancer Rates in Women
Wednesday, 22nd February 2012
Irish Cancer Society Concerned Over Rising Lung Cancer Rates in Women
At the launch of the Irish Cancer Society's Lung Cancer Awareness campaign 2012, the Society has expressed concern at a recent report which shows lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the biggest cause of cancer death in women in Ireland for the first time. This year the Society is encouraging everyone to 'Look After Your Lungs', know how best to prevent lung cancer, know the signs and symptoms and if you are concerned, go to your GP.
Lung Cancer is now the biggest cancer killer in Ireland for both men and women with 1,708 people dying in 2010 (1,006 men and 702 women). Breast cancer deaths for the same period amounted to 634. New cases of lung cancer in women have increased by 17.6 percent in 2010 whereas breast cancer cases are increasing at a much lower rate. Smoking is the key cause of lung cancer and the number of cases is expected to grow each year as we see the effect of increasing numbers of women smoking over the past 20 years take hold.
The key to improving survival for lung cancer patients is early detection and the good news is that in Ireland there is now a clear diagnosis and treatment plan in place for patients. Rapid Access Clinics for lung cancer have been set up in all eight of the designated cancer centres. According to the most recent data for 2011, 1,9406 new patients were seen in the rapid access clinics, 89 percent of whom saw a specialist within two weeks of referral.
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