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Long waiting times for diagnostic tests result in inequality in the healthcare service, the charity says. Alamy Stock Photo

Cancer diagnoses could double by 2045 without urgent action, warns Irish Cancer Society

The charity called on greater investment in Budget 2026, urging healthcare delays to be addressed as a priority.

IF THE GOVERNMENT does not act urgently, the toll on people in Ireland as well as our health service will be “immense”, the Irish Cancer Society warned today.

This is because, CEO Averil Power said, without such action, “the number of people getting cancer in Ireland is expected to double by 2045″.

The pre-budget submission of the charity called for Government to “invest now to reduce the number of people getting cancer and ensure the best possible outcomes for those who do”.

A key ask for Budget 2026 is for the National Cancer Control Programme to be allocated “at least €20 million in new recurrent development funding”.

A commitment to multi-annual funding was also emphasised, with Power saying this is needed “to enable effective planning for future service growth”.

“Irish people are more likely to get – and die – from cancer in Ireland than in many other European countries,” Power said, citing the OECD/European Commission Country Cancer profile for Ireland.

Ireland has the second highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the EU, and the third highest cancer mortality rate in Western Europe. She said:

These shocking statistics must serve as a wakeup call to Government.   

Delays in diagnosis and treatment “are Ireland’s biggest obstacle to improved cancer outcomes”, according to Power. 

Among the budgetary asks, the Irish Cancer Society is looking for funding for the expansion of treatment facilities, investment to ensure timely diagnostic tests and an additional €30 million for new cancer medicines.

New cancer diagnosis every three minutes

Statistics provided by the Irish Cancer Society show that 44,000 people are now diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every year – one person every three minutes. 

Over 220,000 are living beyond their cancer diagnosis. 

But people continue to wait for diagnostic tests, according to the charity. Up to 2,800 people are waiting more than four weeks for an urgent colonoscopy.

At the end of 2024, over 190,000 were waiting over three months for a diagnostic scan such as an MRI, CT or ultrasound.

Once diagnosed, delays in treatment are occuring. Investment to address this is listed as a priority action.

Two in five people with lung cancer and three in ten people with breast cancer did not get their surgery within the recommended timeframe in 2023.

Delays can affect a person’s chance of surviving cancer as well as leading to great anxiety, according to the charity.

It is also calling for funding of awareness campaigns “on the addictive and harmful effects of nicotine products”, including vapes and nicotine pouches, and for adequate funding of programmes that help smokers quit.

Sunscreen dispensers in public places as well as funding to build structures to provide shade in playgrounds and schools are proposed.  

“We deserve the best possible chance of surviving the disease,” Power said. “Sadly, too many Irish people are not getting that at present.”

Have you been affected by delays in diagnosis and treatment of cancer? The Journal Investigates is examining this issue. Please get in touch with us by emailing investigates@thejournal.ie 

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    Mute Shivers
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    Jul 1st 2025, 9:59 PM

    Need to recruit more radiographers to deal with increasing demand. Need to expand into community diagnostic centres (like the uk) where people can get scans in a community hub rather than travelling to hospitals which are already struggling to cope with demand.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 9:27 AM

    @Shivers: did you notice they never a cure for anything since the past generations ? before they would, but now it’s a long process with tons of scans and recalls an checks and long time medication… with these geniuses and their billions over the world, they can’t find a cure ? more like organised business yes

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    Mute Thomas O'Brien
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 9:20 PM

    @Dominic Leleu:
    Too much money to be made from donations and research, so no mad rush to find a cure or treatment.

    2
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    Mute Fat Bear
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    Jul 1st 2025, 9:51 PM

    Welcome to the HSE! We could have saved the 4bill over budget on the children’s hospital.

    45
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    Mute bruce banner
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    Jul 1st 2025, 10:05 PM

    Wont happen FFG want same system as US they’ve just been too afraid to implement it over the years so they broke it instead. Not one of them gives two hoots about the general public.

    45
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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 2:17 AM

    Spraying food crops with chemicals, spraying public areas with glysophate which is now in everywhere water source in Ireland and is carcinogenic and we all wonder why cancer is as bad and widespread as it is. But shush say nothing.

    41
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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    Jul 1st 2025, 10:34 PM

    HSE Chief admits waiting lists will get worse. Was he trying to hide that information before….some job he’s doing alright and running off soon before the situation gets even more chaotic. You’d wonder why he got the job in the first place.

    36
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    Mute Sato
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 1:44 AM

    @Jp Cleary: provide a single thing that you could do that would help the situation without raising the prospect of bills to the public patients, without increasing overall budget provided to HSE, without increasing the mortality rate or patient ques or without attempting to force more work onto the nurses or on to the GP’s and Pharmacists who between then will be the ones keeping people alive when hosp sends then home. They are already at breaking point and most places can’t provide the level of care needed without risking the unions throwing golden toys from the pram and or the consultants and doctors walking from public to private.

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 12:09 AM

    It has more than doubled in my personal life. I know 5 young people, under 40, that have died and 2 more in the process. Call me what you want, ridicule me all you want but I am sure I know what is the cause of this intended anomaly.

    24
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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 12:10 PM

    @Oh Mammy: What is the cause?

    3
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 1:24 PM

    @Sun Rise: you dont know? Surely you jest?

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    Mute Donna Fallon
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 8:32 AM

    Diagnosis being the operative word. Most of us will die on a waiting list well before that.

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    Mute Padraic O' Sullivan
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 6:55 AM

    Get the fluoride out of the water ffs

    11
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    Mute SOCOMJON
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    Jul 2nd 2025, 7:25 AM

    People have a role to play themselves. Stop eating junk, stop drinking alcohol and fizzy dessert drinks, stop smoking. Get off your fat ázz and exercise

    17
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