More than 3000 people a year find out they have cancer in A&E - that's 6 people a day.
The cancer is at a late stage for eight in ten of these patients, which makes them less likely to survive, according to a report by the Irish Cancer Society, based on figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.
Older people as well as patients from less well off backgrounds are most likely to find out they have the disease in overcrowded hospital emergency departments.
Donald Buggy from the Irish Cancer Society says one of the reasons that people are presenting late is that they don't recognise the symptoms of cancer: 'We need to ensure that people are aware of the symptoms and aware of taking early action'.
