rob o'connor, irish cancer society research

Robert O’Connor, Ph.D. Head of Research & Head of Communications, Irish Cancer Society

“We can’t treat ourselves out of the emerging cancer and healthcare crisis”-

www.cancer.ie/research@drrobertoconnor /@irishcancersoc1

The Irish Cancer Challenge -Currently

• > 40,000 cancers newly diagnosed 2016– >20,000 invasive cancers

• ~9,000 die annually

• Communicating this?– 40,000/365 = 110 per day 1/~13 mins– a death every hour of the week.

• In reality – working week– A diagnosis every 3 mins, – A life changing diagnosis every 6 mins of working week

• 1/3 will have cancer diagnosis in lifetime

• numbers Doubling in 25 years!!

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The Irish Cancer Challenge –future

• NCRI cancer projections from 2010 to 2040

http://www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/pubs/Cancer%20projections%20for%20Ireland%202015%20-%202040.pdf4

Why is this happening?

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Older = more cancer

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Age group

Cancer Incidence by age in Ireland 2004-2011

Female

Male

Strong mutationUVChance

Previous & currentenvironmentMutational “load”Summary geneticsChance

http://www.ncri.ie/data/incidence-statistics (all invasive cancers)6

Our population is aging = more disease

Health in Ireland – Key trends 2015, Dept of Healthhttp://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Health_in_Ireland_KeyTrends2015.pdf8

Environmental/lifestyle causes of cancer

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So the numbers of people getting cancer are increasing

• Age

• Lifestyle

• Awareness & diagnosis

• More public openness about cancer

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The cost of treatment

• 2009 cancer cost Ireland €1.5billion or 0.9% of GDP

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Cancer drug costs exploding

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Numbers of new drugs increasing

15 for cancer indications

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Summary

• Numbers getting cancer will continue to rise

• Treatments can be effective but

• Costs per patient are shooting up

⇒On an ECONOMIC BASIS

• WE WILL NOT TREAT OURSELVES OUT of this “EPIDEMIC” of CANCER

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Research is saving lives– right here in Ireland

54% of adults cured (alive 10 years after diagnosis)Children - >90% of children leukemias cured

~70% of them involved in research by being on a trial

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The reality of that current cancer “cure”

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A cure – at what cost….

• Disability

• Fatigue

• Sexual issues

• Mental health

• Chronic pain

• Medical issues

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The Real Cost of Cancer in Ireland

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Cancer survivors

• >1/4 are disabled in some way following their treatment

• But they are LIVING LONGER too• Economics

– The personal costs are significant– Treatment and after treatment mount up–Ability to make economic contribution

evaporates• THE COST OF SUSTAINING SURVIVORS IS ALSO

MOUNTING

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What do we do?

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RESEARCHWE’RE

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Research & ACTING ON research findings is the key

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Action research

– Applying same investment and rigour as employed in medicine research (clinical trials) to rest of the cancer “problem”

• Test hypotheses about improving healthcare

– Prevention

– Early detection

– Treatment Efficacy

– Post treatment and End of life care

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Prevention

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Smoking prevention

• Smoking kills ~5,500 Irish people each year

• Annual Irish Health care costs alone > €500m (2009)

• Typical cessation success rates

– Drugs/cold turkey etc. ~5%

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We can quit

• Evidence-based 12 week supported programme in women from poorer communities

• 46% Quit rate

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Early detection

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Early bowel cancer detection

• Bowel cancer kills ~1000 Irish people annually

• But only 40% of women and 36% of men take free FIT test for bowel cancer

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UK early detection figuresFrom

Early Detection – saves lives & money

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Post treatment exercise –46% lower mortality!

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MedEx

• Exercise improves outcome after serious disease

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Summary

• Cancer numbers are inexorably climbing

• Much we can do to reduce disease & increase quality longevity

• Modern, personalised cancer treatment is becoming economically unsustainable– WE WILL NO TREAT OURSELVES OUT OF THIS

• No single solution

• Need to attack problem at each point of intervention

• Research is our only tool to guide evolution of a sustainable “wealthy” health future

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