Cancer is responsible for almost half of all deaths in Ireland

We already know that cancer is a major health problem in Ireland, but a new study has suggested that the disease is responsible for almost half of all deaths in Ireland last year alone.

The Irish Independent reports today that an analysis of almost 2,000 payouts on life insurance cover in Ireland last year, shows that a massive 44 per cent were caused by cancer. Life assurance provider Irish Life said that two-thirds of all claims for a serious illness during the same period of time were also for cancer.

According to the study breast cancer was the most prevalent closely followed by both prostate and colon cancer.

These worrying figures follow a stark warning over the weekend by the World Cancer Research Fund that new cases of cancer in Ireland could rocket by 72 per cent by the time we reach 2030.

The Irish Life study also revealed that almost a fifth of its death claims were linked to heart disease, which is the second largest factor after cancer.

Further research into the subject of cancer revealed that regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day can triple the risk of developing mouth cancer.

Experts have strongly recommended that women should not drink more than two to three units of alcohol a day, while men should not drink more than three to four units.

Drinkers are being advised to cut down their booze intake by having alcohol-free days, not pre-drinking at home before they head out for a night, swapping to low or alcohol-free drinks and using smaller glasses in order to cut the risks involved.

A survey of more than 2,000 drinkers found that 85 per cent did not realise that drinking more than the recommended limits increased the risk of developing breast cancer. A further 65 per cent did not know that alcohol raised the risk of bowl cancer .

A total of 30 per cent were unaware that drinking can increase the risk of high blood pressure and 37 per cent did not realise that it can impact fertility.

With these new figures from Irish Life and the link between alcohol and cancer, it is important that we really start looking after ourselves.