One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in Ireland in the future.

The Irish Cancer Society said that although treatment is constantly improving, more and more people are being diagnosed with the illness.

Today marks the beginning of Cancer Week 2016 which aims to raise awareness of the disease.

Forty thousand people will be told they have cancer this year in Ireland. Survivor rates here remain low compared to other developed counties.

Donal Buggy from the Irish Cancer Society said up to half of all cancers could be avoided.

“Into the future, we know that one in two of us will be told that we have cancer,” he said.

Preventative measures include:

More information here.

Meanwhile, plans have been unveiled for Ireland’s first ever cancer centre – a new institute on the grounds of St James’s Hospital in Dublin that promises to set a gold standard in patient care.

The team will include experts from Trinity College who will train the next generation of doctors by combining chemical and scientific research.