Over 22,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the State this year, with the figure estimated to rise to 34,000 by 2020, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
The charity announced its annual Daffodil Day Campaign today in Dublin and said it had set a target of raising €3 million from the fundraiser. Last year, the charity raised €2.9 million.
The money raised on Daffodil Day is used to fund a free night-nursing service, hospital liaison nurses, cancer homecare teams and educational programmes.
The Irish Cancer Society urged the public to support the campaign by buying a daffodil or holding coffee mornings. This year Daffodil Day 2006 will be on Friday March 24th.
The National Cancer Helpline can be contacted at 1800-200700.