Plans for improving cancer treatment in the North's hospitals were unveiled today.
A new Cancer Control Programme highlights the importance of lifestyle factors in preventing cancer and the need for the public to be more pro-active in reporting possible cancer symptoms at an early stage.
The report makes 55 recommendations spanning every aspect of cancer care and aims to improve the quality of cancer services and outcomes for patients.
The North's Health Minister Paul Goggins said: "It is vital that we do all that we can to control cancer, taking steps to improve the public's response to key health messages about prevention and the early detection of cancer and ensuring that our health and social care services deliver the best possible outcomes for patients from the resources that are available."
He said everyone had their part to play in meeting the challenge posed by cancer and the document marked an important step forward in meeting the challenge.
The minister urged everyone to study the programme and make their views known during a 12-week public consultation period running to early February.
He added: "The Cancer Control Programme provides a strategic context for the development of cancer services over the next decade and aims to deliver improvements in the treatment and care of cancer patients at every stage of their cancer journey."