Cancer represents a significant proportion of what Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy describes as ‘the burden of ill-health’ experienced by Irish men. The publication of the report – A report on the excess burden of cancer among men in the Republic of Ireland – is a landmark report in investigating key sex and gender differences in relation to incidence, survival and mortality for five non-sex specific cancers with a view to informing both cancer strategy and men’s health policy in the Republic of Ireland. The report was commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society and completed by the National Centre for Men’s Health, Institute of Technology Carlow in partnership with the National Cancer Registry.
Dr. Noel Richardson, director of the Centre for Men’s Health at the Institute of Technology Carlow, said “Cancer represents a significant proportion of what Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy describes as ‘the burden of ill-health’ experienced by Irish men. Lifestyle factors account for a large proportion of this excess burden and are particularly crucial for men in lower socio-economic groups.
“The publication of today’s 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.”
Men had significantly higher rates of Colorectal (bowel), lung, bladder and stomach cancer ranging from 1.6 to 3 times the rate of incidence in females. Melanoma of the skin had higher rates in females.
- Men had higher mortality rates for all cancers examined, including melanoma of the skin, ranging from 1.6 times to 2.7 times the rate of mortality in females.
- While males were significantly more likely to develop these cancers they were also significantly more likely to die from them. Even though females were more likely to develop melanoma of the skin, males were more likely to die from the cancer.
- Survival varied over time in males and females. Male risk of death from colorectal cancer increased over time becoming significantly higher than the female risk of death after one year post diagnosis.
- Male survival was significantly lower than female survival for lung cancer.
- Female bladder cancer survival was significantly lower than male survival at one year post diagnosis; however male survival decreases thereafter and becomes significantly lower than female survival at 3 to 5 years.
- Male survival for melanoma of the skin was significantly lower in males up to 5 years post diagnosis.
- Stomach cancer survival was similar in males and females; however male survival decreases over time and becomes significantly lower 5 years post diagnosis.
In summary, the report highlights that:
- Men at greater risk of getting cancer and dying from cancer and have lower survival
- Even after adjusting for factors such as smoking, deprivation and stage at presentation, men still have significantly lower 5 year survival
- Lifestyle factors account for a large proportion of this excess burden of cancer incidence and mortality in men and are particularly crucial for lower socio-economic groups of men
The report provides a broad range of recommendations that offer a blueprint for a more targeted and gender-specific approach to addressing the key findings; particularly in relation to lifestyle interventions that target those subpopulations of men most at risk. The report emphasises the need for more innovative and creative ways of engaging with different subpopulations of men (e.g. rural or ethnic minority men), in settings more likely to appeal to men (e.g. .workplaces or sports settings), and at critical transition points in men’s lives .(e.g. .fatherhood, the onset of ill-health, retirement/unemployment) when men are more likely to be receptive to .health behaviour change.
For more information clickhere>>