Rising case numbers attributed to older population, with overall underlying risk remaining flat or decreasing over the last 30 years, report finds
The incidence rates for a range of urological cancers mostly affecting men are stable, or going down in Ireland, with any increase in overall numbers due to our ageing population, a new study has found.
An analysis of 30 years of data by the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) found improved survival rates across improved survival rates across prostate, kidney, testis, penile and bladder cancer.
Developments such as rapid access clinics and evolutions in treatment have transformed disease outcomes for patients, the report found.
“Survival rates are either improving or stable across these cancers – none is worsening,” said NCRI head of research and analysis Dr Theresa Redaniel.
“A number of things have contributed to this encouraging picture – two key factors are changes in diagnostic pathways, and major changes in treatment practice.
“We now have centralised prostate cancer diagnosis in eight Rapid Access Prostate Clinics across the country – these have reshaped where and how men are assessed.
“We are also seeing much wider use of less invasive and organ preserving treatments across urology. These are all positive developments for patients and for the healthcare system.”
The report found that the percentage of people surviving at least five years after their diagnosis increased from 76 per cent between 1994 and 1998 to 97 per cent between 2019 and 2022.
For testicular cancer, survival improved from 91% in 1994 1998 to 97% in 2019–2022. For penile cancers, unstandardised five-year net survival improved from 71% in 1994-1998 to 78% in 2019-2022.
Survival rates for both men and women with kidney cancer rose from 49 per cent to 71 per cent, while bladder cancers saw an increase in survival from 67 per cent to 72 per cent.
The data does show rising case numbers, but NCRI analysis shows that this increase in numbers is the result of the population getting older, with the underlying risk or incidence rate for these cancers is stable or decreasing.
Testicular cancer, which primarily affects younger men, has stabilised after earlier increases. Both bladder and penile cancers show modest increases in case numbers, even after accounting for ageing of the population.
“This findings and trends in this Report highlight the importance of comprehensive national data and careful analysis for better outcomes,” Dr Redaniel added.
“It’s important to know, for example, that much of the increase we see in case numbers is due simply to the population getting older – it’s not that the underlying risk has changed. It hasn’t. The incidence rates are either stable or decreasing. And today’s report shows encouraging improvement in survival for these five cancer types.”
Major advances in how these cancers are treated have also led to better outcomes and better quality of life.
“We are seeing for example, robotic-assisted surgery, kidney-sparing procedures, and more conservative approaches that reduce side effects and speed recovery,” Dr Redaniel said.
“This encouraging progress is a testament to coordinated national pathways and the dedication of healthcare professionals across the system.”
The NCRI emphasised the importance of sustained investment in high quality cancer data to monitor these trends and support evidence based decisions in cancer control, prevention and service planning.
“We will continue to monitor and report on these trends,” Dr Redaniel concluded. “Because the NCRI collects comprehensive data from all hospitals and cancer services, we are uniquely positioned to evaluate the impact of national initiatives such as the Rapid Access Prostate Clinics, and, with future years of data, to assess the implementation and outcomes of centralised pathways for other cancers. Our data provide a clear national picture of cancer in Ireland and support the planning and delivery of high-quality services for patients today and into the future.”