Lifestyle-related cancer death rates in Ireland: decreasing or increasing?

We examined death patterns of tobacco-related cancers (lung, oesophagus, larynx, and pharynx) and of non-tobacco related cancers (breast and prostate) from 1972 to 2001 in Ireland, utilizing the WHO Cancer Mortality Database. Estimated-annual-percent-changes (EAPC) in age-adjusted cancer death rates (standardised to world standard population) were calculated by age (10-year groups), period (10-year intervals) and sex. Overall, EAPCs of all the cancer sites studied showed a declining trend in the most recent period (1992-2001), with male oesophageal cancer rates showing a deceleration between 1992 and 2001. In 1992-2001, the youngest age-group studied (45-54 year-olds) showed a statistically significant declining annual rate particularly for lung cancer (males), breast and laryngeal cancer (females); prostate cancer death rates have slowed down in the youngest adults (45-54 year-olds); and the oldest age-groups studied (75-84 year-olds) are also showing an annual deceleration in some cancer sites, with a significant declining annual rate for breast cancer. In conclusion, the current and the future cancer death rates of some common life-style related cancers in Ireland are encouraging.