This report presents the findings of a nationwide survey of adults living in Ireland. It examined participants:

• understanding of cancer risks and warning signs
• knowlege and beliefs about cancer
• knowlege on when to seek medical advice
• gaps in awareness across different population groups

The survey was conducted in Ireland in 2026 to provide evidence that can support cancer prevention, early diagnosis initiatives, and public awareness campaigns.

P.5 Cancer is the leading cause of death in Ireland. Around one in two people in Ireland can expect to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime1, with the number of cancer cases projected to rise in the coming decades. This makes cancer prevention and early diagnosis central to reducing avoidable illness and premature mortality. It is estimated that 30–50% of all cancers are preventable, and a key and effective measure in the prevention of cancer is to reduce exposure to modifiable risk factors. These include behavioural factors (e.g. tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption), metabolic factors (e.g. overweight and obesity) and environmental factors (e.g. exposure to radon and ultraviolet (UV) radiation). For those who do develop cancer, early diagnosis is key to improving survival rates, reducing treatment severity and improving quality of life.

P.21 Smoking - Factors related to smoking tobacco remain by far the most widely recognised. Virtually all respondents (95%) identify smoking tobacco products as increasing the risk of developing cancer, and 84% did so spontaneously, without any prompting. Recognition is also high for exposure to another person’s smoke (77%), chewing tobacco (68%) and other forms of oral tobacco such as snus (64%). Unlike in 2022, when no significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers in their recognition of the cancer risks of smoking, smokers in 2026 were less likely to identify tobacco-related factors as increasing someone’s chance of cancer. Ninety two per cent of smokers identify smoking tobacco products as increasing cancer risk (non-smokers: 96%), 72% identify exposure to another person’s smoke (non-smokers: 79%) and 63% chewing tobacco (non-smokers: 70%)...

P.24 Alcohol consumption - Around two thirds of respondents (67%) identify drinking alcohol as a cancer risk factor. As was the case in 2022, alcohol is notable as the only risk factor apart from smoking for which more people mention it spontaneously (45%) than identify it only when prompted (22%). This suggests that, where the link between alcohol and cancer is recognised at all, it is reasonably front of mind. As in 2022, drinking status was not associated with recognition of alcohol as a cancer risk factor, with 69% of those who drink weekly, 67% of those who drink less often and 67% of non-drinkers identifying it.

[Information on alcohol and tobacco/smoking is throughout the report]