IRISH MEN ARE at greater risk of dying from cancer than women.
A report by the Irish Cancer Society showed that men had significantly higher incidence rates of bowel, lung, bladder and stomach cancer ranging from 1.6 to three times the rate of incidence in females.
Even though females were more likely to develop melanoma of the skin, males were more likely to die from it.
Male survival was also significantly lower than female survival for lung cancer.
Men are less likely to seek medical help, which leads to late diagnosis and lower survival chances. Many of these findings can also be explained by lifestyle factors such as traditionally higher rates of tobacco use in men, excess alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, higher levels of obesity and low levels of physical activity.
Lower socio-economic status is also associated with a higher risk of developing a number of cancers.
Dr. Noel Richardson director of the Centre for Men’s Health at the Institute of Technology Carlow said the “report gives a solid evidence base for what action needs to be taken by both policy makers and service providers so they can engage more effectively with all men, to improve health and well-being and to bring down the incidence of cancer and the number of men dying from cancer.”
Launched for Men’s Health Week 2013, the report was commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society at the Centre for Men’s Health, Institute of Technology Carlow and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.
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