The chances of surviving cancer or getting proper treatment for it have a lot to do with where a patient is from, according to a report published today.
Cancer patients living in the Eastern Regional Health Authority (EHRA) area had significantly higher survival rates compared to patients in other health board regions, the new National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCSI) found.
Relative to the ERHA, there was a 33 per cent poorer survival rate for patients with breast cancer in the Southern Health Board and a 31 per cent poorer survival rate for female colorectal patients in the Western Health Board.
Male colorectal cancer patients in the Southern, South-Eastern, Mid-Western and Midlands Health Board had between 21 and 36 per cent poorer survival rates than those in the ERHA.
Rates of treatment were also significantly different among health board areas across Ireland, according to the report. Patients in the EHRA were twice as likely to receive radiotherapy for bowel cancer as those living in the Mid-Western Health Board area.
The study reported patterns of cancer care and survival in Ireland between 1994-1998.
Fine Gael health spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said: "It is intolerable that where a person lives, in what by anybody's standard is a tiny country, should dictate their chance of surviving cancer."
She said it was the responsibility of Health Minister Micheál Martin to ensure that the best possible treatment was available throughout the country.
