Mayo election candidate blames 'shutdown' for 10% cancer diagnoses drop

There were 10% fewer cancers diagnosed in 2020 than would have been expected or projected by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, according to new figures obtained by Aontú.

The statistics emerged following a parliamentary question from party leader Peadar Tóibín to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. 

Aontú Claremorris local election candidate Paul Lawless has criticised the reduction in cancer diagnoses.

"These are awful figures, what they show is that across multiple cancer types we saw significantly fewer cancers detected or diagnosed in the first and second years of Covid crisis, when compared with pre pandemic cancer rates," he said. "The fall in detection and diagnoses is a direct result of the Government shutting down or reducing vital cancer services during Covid. "

The figures showed there was 2,501 incidences of lung cancer, 2,946 cases of breast cancer, 188 incidences of cervix cancer, 3, and 718 cases of prostate cancer in 2020.

During the 12-month period there were also 452 incidences of brain cancer, 538 leukemia cases and 549 incidences of stomach cancer.

Compared to 2019, there was a noticeable difference when there was 2,729 incidences of lung cancer, 3,574 cases of breast cancer, 267 incidences of cervix cancer, 4,151 cases of prostate cancer, 452 incidences of brain cancer, 566 incidences of leukemia and 578 cases of stomach cancer.

Mr Lawless said during the pandemic Aontú warned against the Government's policy to close so much of our health service.

"Aontú was the only party who pushed back against this policy," he said. "Our leader Peadar Tóibín TD was a lone voice in the Dáil during those debates – Aontú had serious questions about the complete shutting down of our breast check and cervical check screening programmes for large periods of time during the pandemic”.

Mr Lawless said it is alarming that 30% fewer women were diagnosed with cancer of the cervix in 2020 than in 2019.

“We know that in 2020 some 60,000 fewer women were screened by CervicalCheck than in the previous year," he said. "When Aontú raised these issues on the floor of the Dáil at the time the then Taoiseach snapped at Deputy Tóibín, telling him to "get real" and asking if he 'realised we are in the middle of a global pandemic'."

Mr Lawless said the cancer is the biggest killer in Ireland and he believes we 'need to get real about cancer' in Ireland.

“Our leader was very passionate about this issue during the pandemic because he too was diagnosed with skin cancer during lockdown, and he remembers the atmosphere at the time - the fear of going to the doctor in case you might contract Covid-19," he said. "The government, by shutting down key cancer services have cost people their lives, and these decisions need to be scrutinised in a full public enquiry into the handling of the pandemic in Ireland", concluded Lawless.