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Women and Cancer in Ireland
– Reported, January 24, 2012
Cancer places a significant burden on the health of Irish women. It is the second most common cause of death,accounting for 3,400 deaths on average each year. Over 6,000 women are newly diagnosed with cancer with all it attendant concerns and implications on an annual basis. However, the impact of cancer on women can be minimized by increasing our understanding of its aetiology, improving prevention programmes and by earlier diagnosis, optimal treatment and appropriate palliative care.
This report provides an excellent up-to-date over view of the burden of cancer on Irish women. It compares our situation with our neighbours in Europereporting that Irish women are significantly more likely to suffer and die from cancer. It examines trends over time and predicts future patterns. Differences in cancer profiles and experiences between men and women are explored. Recommendations are made for the expansion of prevention and screening programmes and evidence is provided that will inform future policy, planning and resource allocation.
The report draws on the extensive data set collected and collated by the National Cancer Registry. The quality of cancer registry data is central to its utility. The excellent quality of this report is testimony to the commitment and dedication of the Director and staff of the Registry and all of those who assist in the collection of data on a continuous basis. Their support and enthusiasm is appreciated and acknowledged.
The National Cancer Registry recognises the benefit of collaboration to maximise the potential of its data to influence policy and inform decision making thereby reducing the burden of cancer. It is hoped that the success of this first collaboration with the national Womens Health Council will provide the stimulus for further collaboration with both the Council and other interested parties.
Of crucial importance to the Cancer Registry is that information now available will be actively used in the planning of programmes for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This report on cancer in women will thus act as an archive for reference in the future, a yardstick by which to measure our collective efforts in the control of cancer and in particular improving the health status of women.
Risk Factors for cancer in women
A womans chances of developing cancer are affected by a number of factors. Some of these are intrinsic to a womans individual make-up and are therefore not open to modification. A womans age, her familys history of cancer, and her own personal medical history (for example her age at menarche) have all been associated with her chance of developing cancer. Obviously, these factors are all largely unavoidable for the individual but it is important to be aware of them and to ensure that risks are minimised as far as possible by
participating in cancer screening and making healthy lifestyle choices.
The socio-economic and cultural environment in which a woman lives also contributes to her health, and therefore can affect her chances of developing cancer. Income levels are particularly significant here, with economic impoverishment most often synonymous with poor health. Socio-economic differentials are prevalent for practically every health and health lifestyle indicator in Ireland, with wealthier
socio-economic groups having consistent advantages over poorer. Related strong links have been made between health and levels of education, where people with a better education have better health and better health-related lifestyles than those who are less well educated.
Healthy lifestyle choices are essential as many of risk factors for cancer are associated with peoples lifestyles and are thus modifiable. Smoking status is particularly significant here, together with body weight, amount of physical activity, exposure to the sun, sexual health and diet (especially consumption of fruit and vegetables).
The European Code Against Cancer has highlighted the fact that the risk of cancer can be minimised by adopting a healthy lifestyle, and the main risk factors for cancer mentioned in the Code are related to an individuals l,yle.
Overall, health is a product of whether or not a person has sufficient income, adequate housing, and social or community bonds and support, in addition to her/his behaviour, diet and lifestyle. For many women, risk factors may thus co-exist and interact with each other. An integrated approach to prevention is therefore required, to take into account the multiple risk factors that may combine to affect women at high risk of developing cancer, as well as actions targeted at the whole population. Policy aimed at preventing cancer
must also be cross-cutting and holistic in nature, focusing on both societal and individual factors that influence a persons chance of developing cancer.
Survival from some cancers is relatively poor for women in Ireland by international standards. Survival may be poor for a number of reasons, and research is needed to explore these.
1. Late diagnosisare women diagnosed later in Ireland than in other countries? If so, is this due to access to health services (including screening) lack of information or other factors?
2. The absence of national guidelines on best practice for the majority of cancers means that treatment varies considerably around the country; research is needed into the reasons for this variation and to establish if this has adverse consequences for women.
3. The lower rate of treatment of older women was a consistent finding. Research should be carried out into the factors, including the attitudes of clinicians, which determine this low rate of treatment.
4. Cancer clinical trials should include older women where possible, as it cannot be assumed that results from younger patients enrolled in trials can automatically be extended to older people.
Credits: Dr. Elizabeth Keane,National Cancer Registry Ireland and The Women’s Health Council
More information at: http://www.ncri.ie/pubs/pubfiles/Women%20and%20Cancer.pdf
