The incidence of cervical cancer in Ireland is likely to increase as the national cervical screening programme comes into effect, a report said today.
A review of cancer treatments published by the Women’s Health Council said that when compared to other western European countries, Ireland currently has relatively high mortality rates of breast, ovarian and cervical cancer, and relatively high incidence rates of breast and ovarian cancer.
But it said the low rate of cervical cancer in Ireland is likely due, at least in part, to the lack of a national cervical screening programme, meaning that some such cancers are not picked up.
“However, as Ireland’s national cervical screening programme is now available across the country, the incidence of cervical cancer is expected to increase, while the mortality rates should decrease due to earlier detection and treatment,” the report concluded.
It noted that much research is being conducted to investigate the most effective cancer treatments for women with breast, ovarian and cervical cancer.
On ovarian cancer, the latest information available shows that women with ovarian cancer who opt for treatment that will preserve their fertility, have a five-year survival rate as high as 98 per cent.
The survival rate for women who have a single diseased ovary removed and who opt for fertility preserving surgery, is 93 per cent at 10 years.
The report, Cancer Treatments: A review of the bio-medical evidence on breast, ovarian and cervical canceralso said that radiotherapy is "highly effective" in relieving symptoms in 50-80 per cent of patients with symptomatic ovarian cancer.
It also said that having radiotherapy after surgery reduces the risk of local recurrence of breast cancer by two thirds and should be started as soon as possible after surgery.
The authors said research on a new treatment that delivers a single high dose of radiation to a tumour during surgery is “encouraging”.
Irish Cancer Society chief executive John McCormack said: “This valuable review conducted by the Women’s Health Council is an excellent source of information on current treatment options for individuals who are directly or indirectly affected by these cancers.”
The full report is published on the Women's Health Council website.