The number of cancer cases in Ireland is continuing to rise, although survival rates are increasing, according to latest figures.

According to the latest annual report fromthe National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI), the number of cancer cases continues to increase by 3% annually and the number of deaths by about 1% annually.

The report also shows that:

• The commonest cancers are breast cancer in women (32% of the total), prostate cancer in men (31%). Colorectal/bowel (13%) and lung (11%) are the commonest cancers affecting both sexes.

• Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in both sexes (20% of all deaths), although this cancer is almost completely avoidable, the NCRI points out. The lung cancer death rate in Irish women is the fourth highest in Europe; it is more than 50% above the European average and still increasing.

• The risk of developing cancer is increasing by around 1% a year but the risk of dying of cancer is falling by about the same amount, showing the impact of improving cancer survival.

• Long-term survival from cancer has greatly increased in the past decade. Survival at five years from diagnosis has gone from 42% in 1994-1999 to 60% in 2005-2009 in men and from 52% to 62% over the same period in women. Survival for some cancers-testis, prostate and thyroid-is now over 90% at five years.

• There are currently over 100,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. Although the number of male and female survivors is about the same, about 25% of all survivors are women with breast cancer.

• 62,000 years of life were lost to cancer in 2010, more than to any other cause. The number of years lost to lung cancer increased by 50% for women since 1995.