The number of cancer clinical trials taking place in Ireland is on the increase and this will have a major impact on the future of cancer treatment, ICORG has said.

ICORG is the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group, which works to highlight the importance of clinical trials in Ireland and to enable Irish patients to gain early access to new cancer treatments.

Almost one-third of people in Ireland will be diagnosed with some type of cancer in their lifetime. According to figures from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI), over 20,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed here every year.

Mortality rates are improving due to a number of reasons, including improved detection rates and clinical trials. In fact, according to ICORG, ‘significant strides have been made in cancer treatment and this is largely as a result of clinical trials'.

It noted that some 13,000 patients have already taken part in clinical trials relating to cancer and in 2013 alone, 16 hospital sites participated in 102 ICORG-affiliated cancer clinical trials. This was a 30% increase on 2012's figure.

"Every medicine that is available now is available because of the people who have participated in the trials that preceded," the research group pointed out.

It noted that hundreds of patients voluntarily participate in clinical trials every year, and research it carried out among almost 100 participants found that 50% signed up because they believed they would receive the best possible medicine. Meanwhile, 46% signed up because they wanted to help others in the future.

"Participating in clinical trials is not something to fear and our research demonstrated that almost 50% of people participated in order to get access to medicines that are not currently available and at the same time contribute to the treatment options that will be made available to other people living with cancer in the future.

"I'd encourage anyone who is newly diagnosed or currently receiving treatment for cancer to ask their consultant oncologist about clinical trials that might be available to them," commented ICORG's interim CEO and consultant oncologist, Dr Ray McDermott.

One person who underwent a clinical trial, Elizabeth O'Sullivan from Wexford, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, described her involvement as ‘very positive'.

"My daily life was very rarely affected and I found the weekly meetings with my doctor helpful to voice concerns and ask questions. I now meet with my doctor twice a year for check-ups and have an annual scan. It is important for patients to ask questions about their treatment and it's important to consider clinical trials during this process," she commented.

ICORG made its comments to coincide with International Clinical Trials Day (May 20). For more information on ICORG, click here