The first audit of leukaemia treatment and survival in Northern Ireland by the Cancer Registry (NICR) at Queen's University Belfast has shown that survival rates for the disease here are at the highest levels since data collection began in 1993.
For children with the disease, survival has improved dramatically from under 10 per cent in the 1960 to1970s, to the current level of over 80 per cent for five year survival.
The NICR researchers also examined the changes in service and outcome for patients with pancreatic cancer.
While pancreatic cancer has very poor survival, the Registry has documented a doubling in survival for patients diagnosed in 2010 compared with 2008 (18 per cent from 9 per cent), which the researchers say could be due to the changes in service provision including centralising the service to one site, the Mater hospital in Belfast.
The leukaemia audit further revealed that while each year approximately twelve children under the age of 14 are diagnosed with acute leukaemia, there are at least 200 people alive in Northern Ireland who were diagnosed as a child, reflecting the improved survival prospects. People diagnosed as children make up 20 per cent of the over 900 people alive here, who at some stage in the past 18 years, have been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Survival for non Hodgkin lymphoma has also improved dramatically since the introduction of new drug therapies - from 64 per cent for one year and 45 per cent for five year survival in 1993, to 77 per cent for one year and 58 per cent five year survival in 2008. Hodgkin lymphoma has a higher survival than non Hodgkin and has remained steady since the 1990s at 89 per cent for one year and 79 per cent for five year survival.
The figures have been revealed as part of the Cancer Care in Northern Ireland: A decade of change event at Queen's University Belfast organised by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and attended by Edwin Poots, MLA, Minister for Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety.
The audit results follow last week's recognition for Queen's at Buckingham Palace, when the University was awarded a Diamond Jubilee Queen's Anniversary Prize for its leadership of the Northern Ireland Comprehensive Cancer Services programme. The programme has led to improved cancer survival rates in Northern Ireland and is a collaboration led by Queen's in partnership with the Department of Health and the five Northern Ireland Health Trusts with support from the medical research industry.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Anna Gavin, Director of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, said: "Examination of data for pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed in 2010 shows a doubling of survival, a real breakthrough for this disease. If such a survival improvement was seen from a new drug, it would hit the headlines internationally.
"Today we are documenting and celebrating such improvements in cancer services in Northern Ireland, which have come about since service reorganisation was recommended by the then chief medical officer, Dr Henrietta Campbell. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry has, with clinicians, been monitoring the care and survival of cancer patents and recommending chance for future service improvements and will continue to do so."
Speaking at the conference, Minister Poots took the opportunity to again congratulate the University on being honoured with a Diamond Jubilee Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education at Buckingham Palace for the work of the Registry and other areas in Queens University. He said: "I wish to congratulate Queen's University on receiving this prestigious award for a comprehensive cancer centre and I am delighted that patients in Northern Ireland are benefiting from innovative approaches to delivering cancer services. "The longstanding partnership between my Department, the Health and Social Care Trusts and Queen's University illustrates the importance of investing in research and development and the contribution that clinical research can make to our health and to our local economy." Mr Poots said that his Department was proud of the achievements of the University and their health service partner and he was confident that leadership in research is informing improvements in treatment, and to leading clinicians and other health professionals choosing to work in Northern Ireland. The Minister concluded: "It is a real credit to Northern Ireland to have this recognition and great news for cancer sufferers that they have a greater chance of recovering."
Further information on the work of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry is available online at www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/
Media inquiries to Lisa McElroy, Senior Communications Officer. Tel: +44 (0)28 90 97 5384 or +44 (0)781 44 22 572
Notes to Editors
- Dr Anna Gavin is available for interview.
- Monitoring the care of leukaemia and lymphoma patients in Northern Ireland diagnosed in 2008 and Care of pancreatic cancer patients in Northern Ireland diagnosed 2007 (with comparisons 2001 are published by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen's.
- Survival for non Hodgkin lymphoma has also improved dramatically since the introduction of new drug therapies from 64 per cent for one year and 45 per cent for five year survival in 1993 to 77 per cent for one year and 58 per cent five year survival in 2008. Hodgkin lymphoma has a higher survival than non Hodgkin and has remained steady since the 1990s at 89 per cent for 1 year and 79 per cent for 5 year survival.
- Lymphoma: Classification
- Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue which defends against infections is present in several organs in the body such as lymph nodes, the spleen, skin, gut and bone marrow.
- The two main types of lymphoma are Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for 3.7 per cent of all cancers here (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers).
- By the end of 2008, there were 2,345 people living in Northern Ireland with a history of lymphoma diagnosis since 1993.
- In Northern Ireland rates of NHL and HL have remained steady since the Cancer Registry started to record cases in 1993.
- Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for less than 1 per cent of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers).
- Figures over the past 16 years clearly show NHL is predominantly a disease of patients aged 60 years and over.
- In contrast, the incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma, although much lower, peaks at age 20-30 and then has a second peak in the 60-80 age band.
- The 2 year observed survival for Hodgkin lymphoma was 90 per cent.
- Pancreatic cancer
- The NICR have also produced a Pancreas Audit which provides a detailed insight into the diagnosis and care received by pancreatic cancer patients in 2007 and compares that with 2001.
- In that period there is evidence of concentration of specialist expertise and an indication of improved survival for those patients whose cancer was suitable for surgery. Examination of data for patients diagnosed 2010 shows a doubling of survival, a real breakthrough for this disease. If such a survival improvement was seen from a new drug, it would hit the headlines internationally. We need to ensure that we provide the population of N. Ireland with the best service possible and that will be achieved by ensuring that what we know works best is applied to all.
- The specific causes of pancreatic cancer are unknown, but cigarette smoking, nutritional, genetic/familial factors and pre-existing diseases are all associated with this cancer.
- The risk factor consistently identified with pancreatic cancer is cigarette smoking, which may account for 25-29 per cent of cases.
- Both reports launched today were compiled in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN). The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry is funded by the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland and its audit work is facilitated by grants from the Guideline and Audit Implementation Network (GAIN) which is co-hosting the launch event .
- The aim of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen's is to provide accurate, timely information on cancers occurring in the population of Northern Ireland for research, planning and education so that the burden of disease may be reduced and the experience of patients and their outcomes improved.
- The N. Ireland Cancer Registry was re-established in May 1994 under an agreement between the Dept Health and social services, since taken over by the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Queen's University of Belfast . The Registry is part of the Centre for Public Heath in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences , Queen's University of Belfast. The Registry has collaborative working links with the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, all other UK Registries, European Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute USA .