ICS concerned by proportion of cancer diagnoses happening in emergency departments
The Irish Cancer Society has expressed concern about the proportion of cancer diagnoses happening in emergency departments.
They have produced new research which shows one in four lung cancers are being found through emergency presentation - with 62% of cases at a late stage.
Some 15% of all cancers between 2010 and 2014 were diagnosed in an emergency department.
The Irish Cancer Society research also shows over 600 cases of lung cancer every year are found through emergency presentation.
The Government's National Cancer Strategy aims to halve the number of diagnoses in emergency departments over the next 10 years.
Donal Buggy from the Irish Cancer Society said that a diagnosis in the ED can be risky.
"When people present to emergency departments with cancer, they are more likely to be late-stage cancers," he said.
"So about half of all cancers diagnosed in emergency departments are late-stage, and late-stage cancers are harder to treat, they need more difficult, more invasive treatment, and unfortunately the outcomes aren't as good as if you present at an earlier stage."
