Sir – The report from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (“Cancer survival rates improve substantially”, September 1st) provides much needed hope for many cancer patients given the huge resources we spend in detecting and treating cancers in Ireland.
However, it is not all good news. Whilst the overall 5 year survival rate is 67.2 per cent, it falls dramatically to 22.6 per cent for lung cancer, which for the most part is caused by tobacco smoking – almost entirely preventable. The four worst-performing cancers in terms of 5 year survival: pancreas, liver, lung and oesophagus are all heavily associated with tobacco smoking. To compound matters further tobacco-related cancers are more common among those living in areas with greater social disadvantage compared to those living in more affluent areas.
It is clear from the report that at a population level we cannot treat our way out of the disaster caused to cancer patients by tobacco smoking. There is a need for a much greater effort in preventing tobacco-related cancers in the first instance. That will require a significant expansion of resources in this area.
It will also need a strengthening of political will to make bold and radical moves to end the sale of all tobacco-related products within a very short time frame. Government has the responsibility to protect the health and wellbeing of its citizens; however, those who manufacture, market and sell tobacco products to our population for profit cannot escape responsibility for the devastation that their actions have caused.
DR FENTON HOWELL,
Drogheda,
Co Louth