There has been sustained improvement in cancer outcomes here over the last 30 years, new data has revealed.

The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) shows that death rates have declined and survival rates across many cancer types have improved.

The report looks at 1994-2023 and offers the most comprehensive analysis to date of long-term trends in incidence, mortality and survival.

Dr Theresa Redaniel, Acting Director of the NCRI, said the findings point to measurable and encouraging progress in cancer control.

She said the improvements reflect progress in earlier diagnosis and significant advances in treatments.

The data shows that overall five-year survival for invasive cancers increased from 50% for people diagnosed in the five years from 1999-2003, to 66% for those diagnosed twenty years later in 2019-2023.

The NCRI said that relative to other EU member states, Ireland has low death rates for cancers linked to early diagnosis such as cervical and colorectal cancers.

Improvements have also been seen in cancers where treatments have vastly improved, such as multiple myeloma and prostate cancer.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death here, accounting for almost 30% of all deaths.

The NCRI said that while the total number of cancer diagnoses and deaths continue to rise, this increase is largely explained by demographic change, rather than any increased risk, and the figure can sometimes be misinterpreted.

It noted that adjusting for age and population size, cancer incidence rates have declined in both men and women.

Almost 10,000 people die from cancer and around 47,000 tumours are diagnosed here each year.

The Irish Cancer Society has said that improving survival rates demonstrate the impact of continued investment in cancer research, better early detection methods and innovative treatments on cancer care.

It said that improving cancer survival rates are only possible with sustained investment in cancer care.

The society said that Ireland’s cancer rates are set to double by 2045, when compared to 2015 levels.