Redefining cancer care: the importance of primary care cancer research in Ireland

<p dir="ltr">Cancer represents a significant public health challenge in Ireland. As of 2022, nearly a third of all deaths were attributed to invasive malignancies [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR1" target="_blank">1</a>]. Moreover, one in every two people in Ireland will develop invasive cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) in their lifetime [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR2" target="_blank">2</a>]. Forecasts also indicate a potential doubling of cancer diagnoses between 2010 and 2040, primarily due to an ageing population [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR3" target="_blank">3</a>]. <p dir="ltr">Despite these stark statistics, the past three decades have seen Ireland make significant advancements in cancer care, guided by three successive national cancer strategies [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR1" target="_blank">1</a>]. These have contributed to reduced mortality rates for the most prevalent cancers and an increase in 5-year age-standardised cancer survival rates from 42 to 65% over a twenty-year period [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR4" target="_blank">4</a>]. Despite these achievements, Ireland’s age-standardised incidence and mortality rates remain amongst the highest within the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) [<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11845-024-03864-6#ref-CR5" target="_blank">5</a>]. This indicates a need for continued innovation in our approach to cancer control.