Skin Cancer in Men Increases by 29% since 2008
Vhi releases male cancer claim details to coincide with Blue September
30th September 2015 – Skin cancer cases in men have risen by 29% since 2008 according to figures released today by Vhi to mark its sponsorship of Blue September, a nationwide awareness and fundraising campaign highlighting high rates of cancer in men. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers found in men and in 2014 some 4,036 male Vhi customers were treated for the condition, at a cost of €8.7 million, compared with seven years ago when 3,154 men were treated in 2008 (at a cost of €7.7 million). According to the National Cancer Registry report, Cancer projections for Ireland from 2015-2040 the most rapidly increasing cancers in coming decades are expected to be those of the skin – both melanoma and non-melanoma – and so it is imperative that men, particularly those who work outside, take adequate precautions to prevent over-exposure from the harmful rays of the sun.
Vhi also announced that nearly 2,000 of its male customers were treated for prostate cancer in 2014 at a cost of over €20 million. More than 27% of prostate cancer patients presenting for treatment were from Dublin (544 men), followed by Cork (268 men) and Galway (136 men). Prostate cancer is more prevalent than testicular cancer and accounted for 96% of male genital cancer claims, with testicular cancer making up the remaining 4%.
Encouragingly, the numbers of men being treated for lung cancer is steadily diminishing. In 2014, 431male Vhi customers presented for treatment compared to 510 in 2008 – a reduction of 15.4%. This mirrors the general downward trend of age-standardised incidence rates for male lung cancer as reported by the National Cancer Registry recently.
In 2014 almost 11,800 male Vhi Healthcare customers were treated for cancer at a cost of €97.5 million (total cancer treatment pay out in 2014 was €183 million). Among the most common forms of cancer affecting men in 2014 were:
- Skin cancer – 4,036 men treated at a cost of €8.7 million.
- Prostate – 1,995 men treated at a cost of €20.1 million.
- Colorectal – 1,075 men treated at a cost of €17 million.
- Lymphoma – 581 men treated at a cost of €9.7 million
- Lung – 431 men treated at a cost of €7.6 million.
- Testicular – 86 men treated at a cost of €0.44 million.
Dr Bernadette Carr, Medical Director, Vhi Healthcare, stated “Although the incidence of cancer in Ireland for most cancers is growing, the survival rates are also improving owing to a number of factors. Detection at earlier stages through increased awareness and vigilance, along with improvements in how cancer is treated is resulting in better outcomes for patients.”
Vhi has been leading the way in providing facilities for men to proactively manage their health and wellbeing. From our dedicated, fully accredited, Medical Centres in Dublin and Cork, Vhi offers a range of health screening and health check services. Our Screen Extra health screening service and our CancerCheck service both include colorectal cancer screening tests, as well as prostate cancer screening tests. Our CancerCheck service provides a focused consultation about preventable cancer risks and how to reduce your risk, perform self-examination and become more cancer aware.
Dr Carr added, “Over 49,000 health screenings have been carried out in Vhi Medical Centres since our health screening services commenced in 2009. Our CancerCheck service is becoming increasingly popular and in July this year we had already completed more CancerCheck appointments than we had in all of 2014.”
Blue September sponsored by Vhi Healthcare is an international initiative organised in Ireland by the Men’s Cancer Alliance (MCA) which includes the Mater Foundation, Mercy Hospital Foundation and Cancer Care West. The MCA was formed by these charities to create awareness about men’s cancers, the treatments and supports available and to raise funds to create and maintain a number of men’s cancer support initiatives around Ireland. Further information on Blue September sponsored by Vhi Healthcare can be accessed at www.blueseptember.ie
ENDS
Vhi_Press
30-Sep-2015