Some 21,500 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the State this year and around 8,000 will die of the disease in its various forms, the Irish Cancer Society has revealed.
Opening its annual Daffodil Day funding campaign today, the body set a fundraising target of €3 million to fund what it said was "unprecedented" demand for its nursing services around the country.
Mr John McCormack, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society
Daffodil Day will take place this year on Friday, March 11 th.
Last year, the cancer society raised €3.1 million from the campaign. The money will be spent on the night nursing service (€1.5 million); employing 20 hospital-based cancer liaison nurses (€850,000); on the National Cancer Helpline; on bursaries for nurses, on education and on a play specialist for the children's cancer unit in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
Mr John McCormack, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said today: "The numbers of new cases of cancer are increasing by 1.5 per cent annually, mainly due to the growth in our population and increased life expectancy.
"But the good news is that because of early detection and advances in treatment through research, many people with a diagnosis of cancer have an excellent chance of long-term survival.
"In light of this steady increase, there is an ever-growing need for our nursing care services. Since its inception 17 years ago, Daffodil Day has raised €25 million to support and grow these services and we ask the Irish public yet again to give generously and ensure that we reach this year's target of €3 million.
"Reaching this target will allow us to maintain and grow these services and bring good quality care and assistance to even more patients and their families at every stage of the cancer journey."
The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, who unveiled Daffodil Day at an event in Dublin, said the fundraising model had been studied by cancer societies as far afield as New Zealand.
She said cancer was a "terrifying and frightening" illness and there had hardly been a family in the country that had not been touched by it.
Ms Harney said the Government could do a lot in the fight against cancer and that obviously its priority role was to provide resources. But even with voluntary effort, a lot could be achieved, she said.
The National Cancer Helpline can be contacted at Freefone 1800-200700.