Cancer is the most common cause of death and illness in Carlow and Kilkenny.
The disease comes in way ahead of the second-place killer – heart conditions – in both counties according to the latest figures from Irish Life.
Cancer accounted for more than 2-thirds of all claims to the insurer in Co Kilkenny in 2015.
Almost half of all Claims in Carlow last year were cancer related.
One-in five deaths in both counties were heart related.
The company also says the average age of Life Insurance claims in Kilkenny was 59 years while in Carlow it was considerably higher at 67.
