Abstract
We analysed data from 49 cancer registries in 18 European countries over the period
1988–1999 to delineate time trends in cancer survival. Survival increased in Europe
over the study period for all cancer sites that were considered. There were major
survival increases in 5 year age-adjusted relative survival for prostate (from 58%
to 79%), colon and rectum (from 48% to 54% men and women), and breast (from 74% to
83%). Improvements were also significant for stomach (from 22% to 24%), male larynx
(from 62% to 64%), skin melanoma (from 78% to 83%), Hodgkin disease (from 77% to 83%),
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (from 49% to 56%), leukaemias (from 37% to 42%), and for all
cancers combined (from 34% to 39% in men, and from 52% to 59% in women). Survival
did not change significantly for female larynx, lung, cervix or ovary. The largest
increases in survival typically occurred in countries with the lowest survival, and
contributed to the overall reduction of survival disparities across Europe over the
study period.
Differences in the extent of PSA testing and mammographic screening, and increasing
use of colonscopy and faecal blood testing together with improving cancer care are
probably the major underlying reasons for the improvements in survival for cancers
of prostate, breast, colon and rectum. The marked survival improvements in countries
with poor survival may indicate that these countries have made efforts to adopt the
new diagnostic procedures and the standardised therapeutic protocols in use in more
affluent countries.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 05, 2009
Accepted:
November 12,
2008
Received in revised form:
November 11,
2008
Received:
July 1,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.