Cancer patients living in Dublin and neighbouring counties are more likely to survive the disease than those living in the north-east and south, a new report claims.
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) study, published today, found that patients with breast cancer living in the Southern Health Board area had a 33 per cent poorer chance of survival than the State average.
Female colorectal patients living in the Western Health Board area had a 31 per cent worse chance of survival, and male colorectal patients living in the south, mid-west, south-east and midlands had a survival rate that was 21-36 per cent below the average.
The report said that in 1994-98 there were significant differences among health board areas in the treatment of four common cancers.
Patients living in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area were more than twice as likely to have had radiotherapy for bowel cancer as those living in the Mid-Western Health Board area.
"For many cancers, deprivation, irrespective of treatment choices, was related to survival. This report provides strong evidence that cancer treatment and survival can depend on where you live," NCRI concluded.