Information Resources:
- Click here to download the 2026 Cancer Prevention Awareness Day calendar
- NEW: SunSmart UV Index A5 poster
- NEW: Help and advice on quitting smoking before your surgery leaflet
- NEW: Flipbook for Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month
Order hard copies of reducing cancer risk resources from www.healthpromotion.ie by selecting ‘cancer’ under the search by topic drop down menu.
Reports:
The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) Annual Statistical Report 2026 highlights long-term trends in cancer incidence, mortality and survival in Ireland. The report shows that while the number of cancer cases continues to rise, largely due to population growth and ageing, the overall risk of developing cancer has remained stable for women and has fallen slightly for men in recent years.
Between 2021 and 2023, an average of 46,818 tumours were diagnosed each year, with almost 26,500 classified as invasive cancers. The most common invasive cancers were prostate, breast, colorectal, lung and melanoma skin cancer. Cancer remained the leading cause of death in Ireland, accounting for almost 30% of all deaths in 2023. An average of 10,007 people died from invasive cancer each year during 2021-2023, with lung cancer the leading cause of cancer death.
The report highlights significant progress in cancer outcomes over the past three decades. Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates have fallen steadily since 1994, reflecting improvements in prevention, earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. Ireland also performs favourably compared with the EU, with cancer mortality before age 75 estimated to be 11% lower than the EU average.
Cancer survival continues to improve. Five-year survival for invasive cancers increased from 50% for patients diagnosed in 1999-2003 to 66% for those diagnosed in 2019-2023. By the end of 2023, an estimated 230,946 people in Ireland were living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, equivalent to around one in every 23 people.
While the overall picture is encouraging, the NCRI notes ongoing concerns about rising rates of melanoma skin cancer, liver cancer and uterine cancer, highlighting the continued importance of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship services.
Please see the report landing page here which highlights the key findings of the report.