A new report from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) finds that men are up to 3-times more likely to get and die from cancer compared to women.

The research also found the number of men getting invasive cancer is likely to increase by more than 200% between 2005 and 2035, while for women it will only increase by 165%.

The study looked at five of the most common cancers - cancer of the bowel, bladder, lungs, stomach and melanoma of the skin.

It found that Irish men are between 1 and a half to 3-times more likely to catch all of those cancers except melanoma, than women and are up to 3-times more likely to die from them.

Among the key findings were:

• Men had significantly higher incidence rates of colorectal (bowel), lung, bladder and stomach cancer ranging from 1.6 to 3 times the rate of incidence in females. Melanoma of the skin had higher rates in females
• Men had higher mortality rates for all cancers examined, including melanoma of the skin
• Even though females were more likely to develop melanoma of the skin, males were more likely to die from the cancer
• Mortality rates in men ranged from 1.6 times to 2.7 times the rate of mortality in females
• Male risk of death from colorectal cancer increased over time becoming significantly higher than the female risk of death after one year post diagnosis.
• Male survival was significantly lower than female survival for lung cancer

The ICs says many of the findings can be explained by lifestyle factors such as traditionally higher rates of tobacco use in men, excess alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, higher levels of obesity and low levels of physical activity.

Other factors, including late diagnosis resulting in lower survival chances, were also taken into account. While it says that lower socio-economic status is also associated with a higher risk of developing a number of cancers.

Dr. Noel Richardson is director of the Centre for Men’s Health at the Institute of Technology Carlow. "Cancer represents a significant proportion of what Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy describes as ‘the burden of ill-health’ experienced by Irish men. Lifestyle factors account for a large proportion of this excess burden and are particularly crucial for men in lower socio-economic groups" he said.

"The publication of today’s report gives a solid evidence base for what action needs to be taken by both policy makers and service providers so they can engage more effectively with all men, to improve health and well-being and to bring down the incidence of cancer and the number of men dying from cancer" he added.

The message for older and younger men from the ICS is to get informed about risk factors of cancer, and what one can do to protect your health.

The report says the aim now is to figure out how best to target men so they can better understand the risks of cancer and and improve their screening for the disease.

The Head of Services at the Cancer Society is Donal Buggy. He says it is primarily because of their lifestyles, and that men also do not seek help when they should.