Michael McHale , 2025-06-26 05:06:00
New NCRI report finds that more than 3,750 cancer cases diagnosed here in 2022 were directly caused by tobacco use
Nearly ten people every day in Ireland are being diagnosed with a tobacco-related cancer, a new report has found.
The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) publication highlights that smoking remains a major driver of cancer in Ireland, with over 3,750 cancer cases in 2022 directly caused by tobacco use.
The Tobacco-Related Cancers in Ireland 1994–2022 report, published today, presents a comprehensive overview of the trends in cancers caused by smoking. It reveals that while incidence and mortality rates for most tobacco-related cancers have either stabilised or declined, the impact of smoking on public health remains profound.
In 2022, tobacco-smoking was responsible for 14.7 per cent of all invasive cancers in Ireland (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers).
Lung and larynx cancers showed the highest association with tobacco use, followed by bladder, pharyngeal, and oesophageal cancers.
However, survival rates for most tobacco-related cancers have improved over time, with five-year survival showing a positive trend.
“Ireland has led internationally on public health efforts to reduce smoking,” said report lead author Dr Celia O’Hare. “This has contributed to the declining or stable trends seen in most tobacco-related cancers. But more still needs to be done to reduce smoking – 17 per cent of people in Ireland still smoke and smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer in Ireland.”
Tobacco-related cancers are more common among men and individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
Smoking increases the risk of several female-specific cancers, including breast, cervical, and mucinous ovarian cancer.
“Understanding the trends in tobacco-related cancers is vital for enhancing public health awareness and shaping effective prevention strategies,” said NCRI director Prof Deirdre Murray.
“Ireland has not yet achieved its national goal of reducing smoking prevalence to less than 5 per cent by 2025. We need to sustain and enhance our public health interventions in order to reduce tobacco use and its impact on cancer rates.”
