The North Had Nearly 3,900 Deaths From Cancer Last Year

Cancer continues to be a significant cause of death with nearly 3,900 people dying from this disease last year.

Although the number of deaths increased last year, the trend is one of falling death rates. Indeed, if death rates of the 1970s still applied then 26,600 people would have died last year, 11,900 more than the actual number.

In 2007, over half of all deaths were caused by three main diseases; cancer (3,900 deaths), ischaemic heart disease (2,500 deaths) and stroke (1,300 deaths).

"Over the last 30 years deaths due to ischaemic heart disease have halved from 5,000 deaths in 1977 to 2,500 in 2007; in contrast deaths due to cancer have risen from 3,100 deaths in 1977 to 3,900 in 2007.

The impact of alcohol and diabetes on mortality continues to grow. Last year there were 300 alcohol and 200 diabetes related deaths, annual deaths from both causes having increased by more than 100 deaths over the last decade.

Commenting on the statistics a NISRA spokesperson said: "Whilst the number of deaths in Northern Ireland increased last year, over the last three decades death rates have dropped markedly from 11 to eight deaths per 1,000 persons. People are also living longer, in 1977 half of those who died were aged 72 or younger, by 2007 this had reduced to one-third. Cause of death is also changing; in 1977 ischaemic heart disease was the most likely cause of death, by 2007 this had changed to cancer."