Breast cancer patients living in more deprived parts of Ireland are much more likely to die from the disease than those living in less deprived areas, new research has shown.

The findings, which have been published by the National Cancer Registry (NCR) and the Boyne Research Institute, were based on a study of almost 30,000 women with breast cancer. Particular attention was paid to 21,000 of the women who had been diagnosed between 1999 and 2008.

The study's release comes just days after the publication of a map of cancer death rates by NUI Maynooth, which revealed ‘shocking' health gaps within certain areas of Dublin. It found that that people living in poorer areas of Dublin were significantly more likely to die of cancer compared to those living in more affluent areas (see more here).

For this latest study, each patient was categorised depending on their area's level of deprivation. The researchers found that those living in the most deprived areas - about one in four of the participants - were 30% more likely to die from their breast cancer than those living in the least deprived areas.

This meant that around 25% of women in the most deprived areas were not expected to survive the five years after their diagnosis. In the least deprived areas, this figure was 20%.

The study noted that those from more deprived areas were more likely to present to their doctor with breast cancer that was already at an advanced stage, which is associated with a poorer prognosis.

They were also more likely to be smokers and to present with symptoms, as opposed to through breast screening.

"Persistent survival disparities among Irish breast cancer patients, although not fully understood, suggest unequal use of or access to health services. Our study highlights the need to understand and remove the behavioural or other barriers that may be involved," commented one of the study authors, Dr Julianne Byrne, of the Boyne Research Institute.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, PLOS ONE.