Women living in the most deprived areas in Ireland have a 120% increased risk of developing cervical cancer, while men and women in these areas have a 60% increased risk of developing lung cancer, a major new report has revealed.

The report by the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) found that deprivation, age and the urban/rural divide influence a range of factors when it comes to cancer, including the incidence, survival and treatment of the disease.

It focused on patients diagnosed with cancer between 2008 and 2012. While it included cancer as a whole, it also focused on nine major cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal, stomach, cervical and prostate cancer.

The report revealed that those living in the most deprived areas were much more likely to develop cancer than those living in the least deprived. The incidence of cervical cancer was 120% higher in the most deprived areas, the incidence of lung cancer was 60% higher and stomach cancer was 40% higher.

People from the most deprived areas also had a poorer chance of survival. Overall, they were 40% more likely to die within five years of their cancer diagnosis than those in the least deprived areas.

Of the nine cancers specifically analysed, seven showed poorer survival in the most deprived group, including breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Patients with these cancers were 20-50% less likely to survive than their counterparts in the least deprived areas.

The report also found a higher incidence of the disease in urban areas compared to rural areas. Of the nine cancers assessed, a higher incidence was found in six of them in urban areas, including lung, breast and stomach cancer.

Meanwhile, the report also found that those over the age of 75 were around four times more likely to die from the disease compared to those aged 45-54. These differences in survival between older and younger patients were most often seen in breast cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma.

The report noted that when it came to treatment, patients from the most deprived areas were much less likely to undergo surgery than those from the least deprived areas.

Those in the most deprived areas were also much more likely to have other serious health conditions along with their cancer compared to those in the least deprived areas.

The NCRI said that while the findings are ‘on the whole, not unexpected...the patterns seen are quite stark'.

"These patterns point up striking inequalities that need to be targeted for improvement. This is a very complex area to tackle, however, given that we don't fully understand all the factors involved and how they interact," it added.

The report can be viewed here