A new report from the European Commission revealed that Ireland has the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the EU.
The Irish Cancer Society described the findings as a “mixed report card” and urged the Minister for Health to prioritise improvements in cancer care.
The data comes from the European Commission Country Cancer profiles, part of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry, which tracks cancer care and disparities across the 27 EU states, Norway, and Iceland.
The report highlighted that cancer incidence is influenced by risk factors, national surveillance systems, and screening programs.
In 2022, Ireland saw 561 new cancer cases per 100,000 women and 733 per 100,000 men—both figures exceeding the EU averages of 488 and 684, respectively.
Additionally, cancer cases in Ireland are projected to increase by 47 per cent from 2022 to 2040, marking the second-highest growth rate in the EU.