Over 150 people a day are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland

THE Irish Cancer Society has launched its most startling campaign yet in order to highlight the staggering fact that by 2020, 1 in 2 of us will be getting cancer in our lifetime.

The I Want to Get Cancer campaign is designed to get people talking about cancer – which it has succeeded in doing in recent days - and to highlight the supports available from the Irish Cancer Society as well as the steps everyone can take to reduce their chances of developing cancer in the future.

Over 150 people a day are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland – that’s one person every 3 minutes, or 40,000 people a year.

Most recent data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland shows that more than 36,500 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and 1,165 of these people were from Mayo.

Figures also show that the most common cancers in Mayo are non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer.

Speaking at the I want to Get Cancer launch, Irish Cancer Society Head of Communications Gráinne O’Rourke said; “By now, most of the public will have seen or heard about our I want to Get Cancer campaign. Some people have been startled and upset – but hearing your doctor say the words ‘you have cancer’ is far more upsetting.

“I Want to Get Cancer is designed to be provocative, it has to be to save lives. For too long we have spoken about cancer in hushed tones and with a sense of fear and avoidance.

“Some people even think that cancer is inevitable. We want to change that. There are things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer through lifestyle choices, and through research, early diagnosis, screening and better treatments, if you do get cancer, there is hope. At present, there are over 150,000 cancer survivors in Ireland, and that number is rising all the time.”

RTÉ 2fm broadcaster and cancer survivor Louise McSharry described what the campaign means to her: “Being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 31 was shocking, but it opened my eyes. A disease I had never dreamed I would experience suddenly took over my life. I quickly realised that cancer knows no boundaries – it can happen to anyone at any time.

“Everyone thinks they’re aware of cancer, but it’s often not until your life is impacted by it that you begin to pay attention to what it really means to have this terrible disease. We have to change our attitudes to cancer. We have to talk about it and raise awareness.

“I’m lucky – I got out the right side of cancer, and now have a 3 month old son, something I didn’t think would be possible after my diagnosis. I never want him to have to experience the pain and worry I experienced with this disease. That’s why I want to Get Cancer.”

Cancer.ie has all the advice you need when it comes to getting informed about cancer.

To speak to a cancer nurse on any aspect of cancer contact the Cancer Nurseline on Freephone 1800 200 700, email cancernurseline@irishcancer.ie or drop into one of the 13 Daffodil Centre in hospitals nationwide.