Cancer Information

  • Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Ireland (excluding skin cancer). Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer

    About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it is detected in its early stages.

    It is recommended that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.

    For more information visit https://www.hse.ie/conditions/cancer/

  • Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer.

    Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in Ireland. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.

    For more information visit: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bowel-cancer/

  • In recent years around 1,800 people are diagnosed with lung cancer annually – approximately 1,100 men and 700 women. More than 90% of patients are symptomatic at presentation.

    For more information visit https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/cancer/

  • About 3,890 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in Ireland. This means that 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

    Prostate cancer can be treated with active surveillance, external beam radiotherapy, hormone therapy, brachytherapy, surgery, chemotherapy and watchful waiting.

    For more information visit https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/cancer/

  • Around 370 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year in Ireland. It is twice as common in men than women.

    Liver cancer treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and targeted therapies.

    Sometimes other cancers spread to the liver. This is called secondary liver cancer (metastatic cancer). For example, bowel (colorectal) cancer cells can spread to the liver. The cancer cells are not liver cancer cells. So, for example, when bowel cancer spreads to the liver the cancer cells are bowel cancer cells and are treated with bowel cancer treatments, even though they are in the liver.

    Metastatic cancer in the liver (secondary liver cancer) is a lot more common than primary liver cancer. The information in these pages is about primary liver cancer.

    For more information visit https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/liver-cancer

  • Kidney cancer is when kidney cancer cells change and grow in an abnormal way. A group of these cancer cells can form a tumour.

    Almost 700 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year in Ireland.

    Usually only one kidney is affected. As the cancer grows it can affect how your kidney works and can cause problems. In most cases, the cancer is found before it has spread to other organs.

    For more information visit: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/kidney-cancer

  • Oesophageal cancer is cancer of the food pipe. About 500 people are diagnosed with it in Ireland every year.

    Oesophageal cancer develops when abnormal cells in the oesophagus grow out of control, forming a tumour.

    Usually the tumour doesn't cause symptoms at first, but as it grows it can cause persistent indigestion and heartburn, and later difficulty swallowing.

    For more information visit: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/oesophageal-cancer?gclid=CjwKCAjwyaWZBhBGEiwACslQo60nkzXHH5wCEj1oQc-N3eOBkbMYYBoZJb3WhEEd7SLRFZPzpw4-LxoCN-kQAvD_BwE

  • Pancreatic cancer develops when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control, forming a tumour. More than 600 people are diagnosed with it in Ireland every year.

    The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma. These cancers are found in the head of the pancreas, in the ducts. About 9 in 10 patients will have adenocarcinoma.

    Pancreatic cancer may cause very few symptoms in the beginning, but as it grows it can cause symptoms.

    What is the pancreas and what does it do?

    The pancreas is a gland that is part of your digestive system. It is approximately 6 inches long and lies deep inside your tummy, behind your stomach.

    It has 3 main parts: the head, the body and the tail. It is close to several large and important organs and blood vessels.

    The pancreas makes digestive juices (enzymes). The digestive juices break down food so that it can be absorbed into the lymph and bloodstreams. The pancreas also makes hormones, including insulin, which control sugar levels in the blood.

    For more information visit: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/pancreatic-cancer?gclid=CjwKCAjwyaWZBhBGEiwACslQo8BhMq1ldudD3OBYqcXq0wOdSUykgxeFg_Q0N3kBs7_02zWrtoiSFxoCJbwQAvD_BwE

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