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Cancer x-ray via Shutterstock

Lung cancer is being diagnosed faster, but remains Ireland's most fatal cancer

The disease accounts for about 20 per cent of cancer deaths in Ireland.

OVER 40 PER cent of lung cancer cases in Ireland are now diagnosed in rapid access clinics, but the cancer remains Ireland’s most fatal.

Visits to the the clinics were up by five per cent last year, a forum held by the National Cancer Control Programme was told today.

In total, 2,890 patients presented, with 869 being diagnosed with a primary form of the disease.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Ireland representing approximately 20 per cent of all deaths due to cancer, killing more Irish people every year than breast and colon cancer combined.

Lung cancer in Ireland has a 13 per cent survival rate, up from 9.4 per cent a decade ago.

A total of 2,165 new cases were recorded last year – 904 female and 1,261 male, the forum heard.

The incidence of lung cancer in women has been rising steadily over past three decades and is projected to increase by 141 per cent in women and 61 per cent in men between 2010 and 2030.

Over 90 per cent of lung cancer in Ireland may be attributed to smoking tobacco and, doctors say, is therefore theoretically preventable.

Acknowledging the poor survival of patients with lung cancer in Ireland compared to best international figures, the NCCP established the rapid access clinics and re-organised surgical services to concentrate lung cancer surgery into four centres – St James’s Hospital and the Mater Hospital Dublin and Cork University Hospital and Galway University Hospital.

NCCP National Director Dr Susan O’Reilly said that quicker diagnosis leads to higher survival.

“Our aim is to increase survival from lung cancer. Timely access to curative treatment for suitable patients is vital to achieve this. If there is undue delay to surgery, the disease can progress within a short time frame to becoming inoperable.”

Read: Infographic: Here’s how you spot skin cancer

Read: Rates of breast cancer, invasive cervical cancer and prostate cancer are increasing in Ireland

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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Dec 10th 2022, 11:58 AM

    Brrrrrrr…….. One word. LAYERS!!!

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    Mute Mike Finnegan
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    Dec 10th 2022, 12:59 PM

    @Anna Carr: yeah, it’s tough weather for the poor hens…….

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:19 PM

    @Mike Finnegan: and the Bookmakers

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:15 PM

    @Anna Carr: birrrrrrrr is here in Offaly ;)

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    Mute David Devane
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:52 PM

    Did that say Yellow snow warning…

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    Mute Sean O Cathasaigh
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:28 PM

    My kids have no idea who hacksaw jimmy duggan, brutus the barber beefcake or macho man randy savage are. what the hell are they teaching them in school these days?

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    Mute Peter McCabe
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:30 PM

    @Sean O Cathasaigh: Christmas Carols

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    Mute Maurice Glennon
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:37 PM

    @Sean O Cathasaigh: teachers these days just stick on Youtube or Netflix for the kids & put their feet up.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 10th 2022, 9:20 PM

    What rotten weather for anyone homeless or can’t afford heating, our natural resources need to be brought back to public ownership, this greed is out of control & privatisation needs to be stopped now, these people’s greed is causing so much misery & their just plowing ahead with nobody controlling it all.

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    Mute Irish Cottage Rental
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:33 PM

    Falling as “rain or sleep” – yes please !

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    Mute Aidan Conway
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:58 PM

    Dont eat the yellow snow! Tgats my warning!

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    Mute James Johnson
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:11 PM

    Hopefully the Munster v Toulouse game tomorrow won’t be affected, Rumours abound here in limerick.
    Child of Prague is out

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    Mute Gina Robinson
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    Dec 10th 2022, 6:33 PM

    Delighted to see we will have sleep

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    Mute Madra
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:59 PM

    Typo in the article. It’s sleet not sleep.

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:45 PM

    @Madra: On your bike pedant.

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    Mute Dougz
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:47 PM

    Orange warning sounds warmer than yellow warning! Get in! Toasty

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:47 PM

    The map shows temps as 0 and -0

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:10 PM

    I’m bored with the weather stuff. Can’t we have more articles about racists taking over East Wall protests or some stuff ridiculing Enoch whatshisname.

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    Mute Jack Creegan
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:27 PM

    I,m really enjoying this global warming. Can’t wait for net zero 2050.

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:44 PM

    It’s cold it’s winter. I think I have it in me to to be a columnist but feel I would have to avoid being succinct.

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