Cancer mortality among Chinese, Japanese, and Indians in British Columbia, 1964-73

We compared age-adjusted mortality rates for cancer of selected sites for Chinese, Japanese, and native Indian residents of British Columbia during the years 1964-73 to the corresponding rates for the white population. Mortality from all cancers of the Chinese did not differ significantly from that of whites. Elevated rates are seen for cancer of the nasopharynx in both sexes, of the liver and esophagus in males, and of the lung in females. Chinese males had a lower mortality than whites from stomach, prostate, and bladder cancer and brain tumors, whereas females had a lower mortality from tumors of the colon, breast, and ovary; both sexes had a lower mortality from leukemia. For Japanese males and females, the mortality rates for all cancers combined were similar to those of the white population. The rates for cancer of the stomach and gallbladder were higher in both sexes; males also showed a higher rate of liver cancer. Prostate and breast cancer mortality rates were lower. Native Indian males had a lower mortality rate from all cancers combined; the difference was significant for stomach, colon, lung, and prostate cancers, and for leukemia. Native Indian females showed a lower rate for ovarian cancer and a higher rate of tumors of the gallbladder and uterine cervix, but their overall cancer mortality was similar to that of whites.     

Trends in cancer mortality in young adults in Europe, 1955–1989

Trends in mortality in the age group 20–44 years for the 16 most common cancers or groups of cancer in young adults are presented for 24 European countries (i.e. those with ≥ 1000 000 inhabitants). The largest (up to 9-fold) and most frequent increases were recorded for cancer of the mouth and pharynx (≥ 2-fold increase from 1955–1959 to 1985–1989 in 10 countries), and oesophagus (in eight countries) in males, and for cancer of the skin, chiefly of melanomatous type, in males and females (in nine and eight countries, respectively). Consistent declines were observed for cancer of the stomach and uterus (chiefly, cervix), and for Hodgkin's disease, most notably in northern European countries. Little change emerged in the last 30 years or so in young adult mortality rates for cancer of the colon-rectum, pancreas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemias and cancers of the breast and ovaries in women. More than 2-fold elevations in lung cancer mortality rates in men aged 20–44 years were found only in a few previously non-market economy countries, and in Spain and Portugal. In some northern European countries, favourable downward trends in young males were accompanied by more than 2-fold increases in lung cancer mortality rates in young women. Overall, total cancer mortality rates in women at aged 20–44 years have declined over the last 35 years by more than 20% in 12 countries, and have not increased anywhere. Total cancer mortality rates in young males showed similar decreases in nine northern European countries, but increases of the same magnitude were also observed in most formerly non-market economy countries, and in Spain and Portugal.     

Cancer in young adults between the ages of 15 and 34 years in Greater Bombay

An attempt has been made in this study to examine the nature and magnitude of the cancer problem in young adults between the ages of 15 and 34 years living in Greater Bombay. The morbidity data utilised for this exercise were obtained from the Bombay Cancer Registry and the mortality analysis was made from the death records maintained by the Bombay Municipal Corporation. In Greater Bombay, the ratio of cancer incidence in this specific group as compared with the total incidence of the disease in the general population was very high in comparison with the Western incidence. The site most commonly affected by cancer in young adults seems to be the lymphatic and haematopoietic tissues in males and breast and cervix in females. The morbidity and mortality rates of the disease in the general population and in children reveal an overall male preponderance, but the situation is found to be totally reversed in young adults. Then again, the incidence as well as the mortality rates appear to decrease with advancing age in children, but in young adults the incidence increases with age. Leukaemia is the most commonly encountered malignancy in the young adult male, followed by cancers of the testes and bones, Hodgkin's disease, and cancers of the brain and connective tissues, in descending order of frequency. In females, breast cancer has the highest incidence followed by cancer of the cervix, leukaemia, and cancers of the ovary and thyroid. When the various registers are ranked according to age-adjusted incidence rates, the figures for Greater Bombay are seen to be at the lowest levels in both sexes.     

Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Central Myanmar: Report of Nay Pyi Taw Population-Based Cancer Registry

Background: Cancer is a major public health problem in Myanmar, and cancer registration activities are currently underway through both hospital-based and population-based approaches. So far, there are no population-based cancer incidence and mortality estimates in the country. Methods: According to the 2014 census, the total population of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory was 1,160,242 within the area of 70,571 km2. Nay Pyi Taw Cancer Registry team collected data of new cancer cases both actively and passively from all data sources in the region. The data were registered, updated, cross-checked, quality-assured, and analyzed in CanReg5. The results were presented as the number of cases by site, sex, and age, cumulative risk (CR), crude rate, age-specific, and age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100,000. Results: Total 5,952 new cancer cases and 1874 cancer deaths were recorded among the population of the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory between 2013 and 2017. The age-standardized incidence rate for all cancer sites excluding non-melanoma skin cancers in males was 125.9 and 107.3 for females. For both sexes combined, the most common cancers were lung (14%), breast (11.4%), liver (10.2%), mouth and pharynx (8.5%), and stomach cancers (7.8%). In males, the most common were lung (18.1%), liver (14.8%), mouth and pharynx (13%), stomach (8.9%) and colon, rectum, and anus (7.4%) cancers. In females, these were breast (21.2%), cervix (13.0%), lung (10.3%), stomach (6.9%) and colon, rectum, and anus (6.3%) cancers. The most common cancer deaths were caused by liver (20.8%), lung (15.7%), mouth and pharynx (9.3%), stomach (7.5%), and Colon, rectum, and anus (6.8%) cancers. Conclusion: The findings in this study are salient and have potential to serve as important information for the National Cancer Control Program to formulate prevention and control strategies.     

Years of Potential Life Lost and Productivity Costs Due to Premature Cancer-Related Mortality in Iran

Background: Cancer is recently one of the major concerns of the public health both in the world and Iran.To inform priorities for cancer control, this study estimated years of potential life lost (YPLL) and productivitylosses due to cancer-related premature mortality in Iran in 2012. Materials and Methods: The number of cancerdeaths by sex for all cancers and the ten leading causes of cancer deaths in Iran in 2012 were obtained from theGLOBOCAN database. The life expectancy method and the human capital approach were used to estimate theYPLL and the value of productivity lost due to cancer-related premature mortality. Results: There were 53,350cancer-related deaths in Iran. We estimated that these cancer deaths resulted in 1,112,680 YPLL in total, 563,332(50.6%) in males and 549,348 (49.4%) in females. The top 10 ranked cancers accounted for 75% of total deathand 70% of total YPLL in the males and 69% for both death and YPLL in the females. The largest contributorsfor YPLL in the two genders were stomach and breast cancers, respectively. The total cost of lost productivitydue to cancer-related premature mortality discounted at 3% rate in Iran, was US$ 1.93 billion. The most costlycancer for the males was stomach, while for the females it was breast cancer. The percentage of the total coststhat were attributable to the top 10 cancers was 67% in the males and 71% in the females. Conclusions: TheYPLL and productivity losses due to cancer-related premature mortality are substantial in Iran. Setting resourceallocation priorities to cancers that occur in younger working-age individuals (such as brain and central nervoussystem) and/or cancers with high incidence and mortality rates (such as stomach and breast) could potentiallydecrease the productivity losses and the YPLL to a great extent in Iran.     

What is hidden behind urban and semiurban cancer incidence and mortality differences in central Italy?

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To analyze differences in cancer incidence and mortality between urban and semiurban municipalities in central Italy. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Population-based survey in the provinces of Florence and Prato in Central Italy involving cancer patients diagnosed between 1985 to 1997 and cancer deaths from 1985 to 1998. RESULTS: Urban-semiurban incidence ratios were significantly high in both genders for all cancer sites combined (males 1.06, females 1.09), lung (1.11 and 1.37), Kaposi's sarcoma (1.96 and 2.39) and urinary bladder (1.23 and 1.44) and significantly low for stomach cancer (0.76 and 0.84). Among females, urban incidence excesses were present for breast, cervix uteri and skin melanoma and among males for prostate, Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphomas and mesotheliomas. Most of the cancer mortality rate ratios corresponded to the incidence rate ratios. CONCLUSIONS: We found that cancer risks and deaths were not homogeneously distributed in the analyzed area, but an urban gradient was present. Part of the differences can probably be attributed to environmental exposures and lifestyle.     

2008~2012年辽宁省鞍山市城区恶性肿瘤的发病分析

[目的]了解鞍山城区2008～2012年恶性肿瘤的发病情况,为制定恶性肿瘤的综合防治措施提供科学依据.[方法]收集鞍山市肿瘤登记处2008～2012年恶性肿瘤的发病资料,计算恶性肿瘤的发病率、标化发病率、年龄别发病率和构成比等指标.标化率采用2000年全国人口普查标准人口和Segi's世界标准人口为标准.[结果]2008～2012年鞍山城区恶性肿瘤粗发病率为333.1/10万,中标率为200.7/10万,世标率为195.0/10万,截缩率(35～64岁)为326.7/10万,累积率(0～74岁)为21.8％.男性发病率高于女性(男性世标率为212.7/10万,女性世标率为180.4/10万).男性恶性肿瘤发病前10位为肺、结直肠、肝、胃、食管、膀胱、胰腺、肾、脑和神经系统、前列腺,占全部恶性肿瘤的81.9％.女性恶性肿瘤发病前10位为乳腺、肺、结直肠、宫颈、肝、胃、卵巢、子宫体、胰腺、脑和神经系统,占全部恶性肿瘤的81.8％.[结论]肺癌、结直肠癌、乳腺癌、肝癌、胃癌、宫颈癌等是威胁鞍山市城区居民健康的主要恶性肿瘤,要积极控制危险因素,加强防控.     

Changes in the Distribution of Cancer Incidence in Nepal from 2003 to 2013

Background: Cancer incidence data are vital for cancer control planning in any nation. This retrospective study was conducted to compare the cancer incidence of all sites between the first cancer registry report and the most recent example in Nepal. Material and Methods: The cases in the first (2003) and latest (2013) national cancer registry reports, accumulated by all the hospital based cancer registries in Nepal were taken for the research. The frequencies, crude incidences and age specific incidences (per 100,000) of the five major cancers were calculated for both males and females. Result: The most common cancer type for males in both years 2003 and 2013 was lung. Stomach was the third most common cancer in 2003 while it was the second in 2013. Similarly, the first four major cancers (cervix, breast, lung and ovary) did not change between 2003 and 2013 in females. The total cancer incidence rate increased from 12.8 in 2003 to 30.4 per 100,000 in 2013 for males and from 15.1 to 33.3 in females. Conclusion: The most common cancers in males in 2003 and 2013 were in the bronchus and lung. Similarly, the most common cancer in females was cervix at both time points. The cancer incidence rate in females was higher than in males both in 2003 and 2013.     

Trends in cancer mortality in Italy, 1955-1978

Trends in age-specific and age-standardized cancer death certification rates in Italy from 1955 to 1978 were analyzed. In males total cancer mortality rates increased in all age groups. However, when respiratory and other tobacco-related neoplasms were excluded, death certification rates were roughly stable up to age 64. Moderate decreases in overall cancer mortality have been apparent at younger ages (35-44) since the early 1970's. In females, all the age-specific and the age standardized, under-65 death certification rates decreased; the downward trends were more pronounced (-18.5%) in the younger age group considered (35-44 years). Respiratory cancer mortality increased sharply in males: lung cancer death rates reached a plateau in the early 1970's in the 35-44-year age group, but increased at all subsequent ages. In females, the increase in lung cancer mortality was about 50% in the 45-54 and 55-64-year age groups, but no upward trend was evident in younger women. Other tobacco-related cancers (mouth or pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and bladder) also rose considerably. In both sexes, gastric cancer mortality dropped about 50% below age 65, but mortality rates from cancer of the stomach were still considerably higher than in other Western countries. Likewise, mortality from cancer of the (cervix) uteri decreased markedly, mostly in younger age groups. Upward trends in death certification rates were evident for cancers of the bowel (colon and rectum, about 50% in males, and 35% in females below age 65), and of the breast in females. However, these trends have levelled off since the late 1960's, at least in the younger age groups. Certified death rates from cancer of the skin (melanoma) increased over all the periods considered in the young of both sexes. Cancer mortality rates showed marked increases in older (greater than or equal to 65) males, but this can be partially explained in terms of better case ascertainment and more accurate death certification.     

Annual cancer incidence rates for Hispanics in the United States: surveillance, epidemiology, and end results, 1992-1996

BACKGROUND: The expansion of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and the determination of annual population estimates by county level for different racial/ethnic groups since 1990 allow the calculation of annual cancer incidence rates for Hispanics. METHODS: Incidence rates were calculated for 11 SEER areas representing 25% of the Hispanic population. Standard regression analyses of log-transformed rates were used to determine the trends of the rates. RESULTS: An important measure of the cancer burden among Hispanics is the rank order of their cancers. For Hispanic males, the five major cancers (in declining order) are prostate, lung and bronchus, colon/rectum, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and stomach cancers. For Hispanic females, the top five cancers are breast, colon/rectum, lung and bronchus, cervix, and endometrial cancers. Another measure of cancer burden is their rates relative to white non-Hispanics. Hispanic males have rates greater than white non-Hispanic males for stomach (1.6 times greater) and liver and IBD cancers (2.2), whereas Hispanic females have greater rates for cervix (2.2 times greater), liver and IBD (2.0), stomach (2.1), and gallbladder cancers (3.3). Other measures of cancer burden include the trends in Hispanic rates. Hispanic males have significant declining trends for all sites, prostate cancer, and urinary bladder cancer, and an increasing trend for liver and IBD cancers. Hispanic females have significant declining trends for cervix and urinary bladder cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The SEER cancer incidence rates and trends provide a general overview of the cancer burden among Hispanics residing in the SEER sites. This type of information is critical for determining interventions to reduce the cancer burden among Hispanics in the United States.     

Cancer mortality in Italy, 1997: quantifying the fall in rates in women and men.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To update data and statistics on cancer death certification in Italy to 1997. METHODS: Data and statistics for 1997 subdivided into 31 cancer sites are presented.Trends in age-standardized rates for major cancer sites are plotted from 1955 to 1997. RESULTS: The age-standardized (world standard) death certification rates from all neoplasms steadily declined from the peak of 199.2/100,000 males in 1988 to 174.7 in 1997 and for females from 102.5 to 93.0. The decline was larger in truncated rates, by about 26% for males since 1983 and by 24% for females since the top rate of the early 1960's. A major component of the favorable trend in males was lung cancer, which showed a 16% decline from the peak of 1987-88, to reach 50.6/100,000 in 1997, corresponding to about 5,000 avoided deaths. The decline in lung cancer was about 34% at age 35 to 64. For females, in contrast, both the absolute number of lung cancer deaths and the age-standardized rate of 7.9/100,000 were among the highest values ever registered, reflecting the different pattern of spread of the tobacco-related lung cancer epidemic in the two sexes. Intestinal cancer rates were stable for males but declined by approximately 10% for females, mostly in middle age, as did breast cancer mortality. Among neoplasms showing favorable trends, there were other tobacco-related neoplasms in men, plus the continuing fall in stomach and cervix uteri. Upward trends were observed for non Hodgkin's lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS: The fall in cancer mortality observed over the last decade in Italy is attributable to a decline in lung and other tobacco-related neoplasms in males, together with a persistent fall in stomach and uterine (cervical) cancer. In women, there were also recent falls in intestinal and breast cancer rates, and declines in both sexes in rarer neoplasms influenced by therapeutic advancements.     

Cancer incidence and mortality in young adults in vaud,Switzerland, 1974-1992

Trends in cancer incidence and mortality in young adults (aged 20 to 44 years) over the period 1974-1992 were analyzed using data from the Vaud Cancer Registry, Switzerland. A total of 1,497 cancers were registered in males, after excluding non melanomatous skin cancers. The most common neoplasms were testis, lymphomas, lung, skin melanoma and oral cavity and pharynx. The overall age-standardized (world population) incidence was 750 per million males, and increased from 676 in 1974-1979 to 808 in 1986-1992. These upward trends were due mainly to cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, lung, skin melanoma and colorectum, while testicular cancer rates remained stable. For females, a total of 1,899 malignant neoplasms was notified, corresponding to an overall age-standardized incidence of 914 per million. The overall rate increased from 818 in 1974-1979 to 1,003 in 1986-1992. The most frequent neoplasms were breast, skin melanoma, ovary, thyroid and lymphomas. The major types of cancer responsible for these upward trends were breast cancer, skin melanoma and lung cancer. In the period studied there were 458 cancer deaths in males and 408 in females, corresponding to an overall age-standardized rate of 227 per million males and 193 per million females. Death rates in males tended to decline, to reach 194 per million in 1986-1992, but no consistent trend was observed in females. The decline in males was essentially due to the fall in rates for testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease. In females, falls in death rates were observed for cancer of the cervix uteri, ovary and Hodgkin's disease. Death rates were upwards for lung cancer in both sexes, and for skin melanoma and breast cancer in females. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Disability Adjusted Life Years for Cancer Patients in India

The disability adjusted life year (DALY) has been employed to quantify the burden of diseases. This measureallows for combining in a single indicator “years of life lived with disabilities (YLD)” and “years of life lost frompremature death (YLL)”. The present communication attempts to estimate the burden of cancers in-terms ofYLL, YLD and DALY for “all sites” and leading sites of cancer in India for the years 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016.The YLL, YLD and DALY were estimated by employing Global Burden of Disease (GBD) methodology usingthe DISMOD procedure. The published data on age, gender and site specific cancer incidence and mortality forthe years 2001-2003 relating to six population-based cancer registries viz. Bangalore, Barshi, Bhopal, Chennai,Delhi and Mumbai, expectation of life by gender for urban areas of the country for 1999-2003 and the projectedpopulation during years 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 were utilized for the computations. DALYs were found tobe lower for males (2,038,553, 2,313,843, 2,656,693 and 3,021,708 for 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 respectively)as compared to females (2,560,423, 2,961,218, 3,403,176 and 3,882,649). Amongst males, highest DALYs werecontributed by cancer of the lung and esophagus while in females they were for cancers of breast and cervix uteri.It is estimated that total DALYs due to cancer in India combined for both genders would increase from 4,598,976in 2001 to 6,904,358 by 2016. Premature mortality is a major contributor to disease burden. According to thepresent estimates, the YLL component of DALY is about 70.0%. The above described computations reveal anurgent need for initiating primary and secondary prevention measures for control of cancers.     

Declining incidence of esophageal cancer in the Turkmen Plain, eastern part of the Caspian Littoral of Iran: a retrospective cancer surveillance

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that upper gastrointestinal cancers are the most common cancers in Caspian Littoral, and rate of esophageal cancer (EC) in Iranian Turkmens residing in the Eastern part of littoral are among the highest in the world. Our aim was to reassess the rate 30 years later and following socioeconomic changes in the region. METHODS: A comprehensive retrospective search was undertaken to find all new cancer cases during the 1996-2000 period. Diagnosis of cancer was based on histopathological reports in 68.2%, clinical and/or radiological evidence in 29.7% and death certificate only (DCO) in 2.1% of the cases. RESULTS: A total of 5143 new cancer cases were registered of whom 3063 (59.6%) were males. The median (IQR) age was 60 (44-69) years. Age-standardized rates (ASR) for all cancers in males and females were 134.7 and 104.5 per 100,000, respectively. Based on ASR, the top five common cancers in males (excluding skin cancer) were cancers of esophagus (43.4), stomach (27.8), colorectal (10.7), bladder (7.8) and oral cavity (6.3), while in females cancer of esophagus (36.3) was followed by cancers of breast (15.7), stomach (8.3) colorectal (6.6) and cervix (3.6). CONCLUSION: We conclude that EC incidence rate has decreased to less than half the rate reported 30 years ago, while the incidence rates of colorectal and breast cancers have increased significantly.     

A Model Approach to Calculate Cancer Prevalence From 5 Year Survival Data for Selected Cancer Sites in India

Background: Prevalence is a statistic of primary interest in public health. In the absence of good followupfacilities, it is difficult to assess the complete prevalence of cancer for a given registry area. Objective: Anattempt was here made to arrive at complete prevalence including limited duration prevalence with respect toselected sites of cancer for India by fitting appropriate models to 1, 3 and 5 years cancer survival data availablefor selected population-based registries. Materials and Methods: Survival data, available for the registries ofBhopal, Chennai, Karunagappally, and Mumbai was pooled to generate survival for breast, cervix, ovary, lung,stomach and mouth cancers. With the available data on survival for 1, 3 and 5 years, a model was fitted andthe survival curve was extended beyond 5 years (up to 35 years) for each of the selected sites. This helped ingeneration of survival proportions by single year and thereby survival of cancer cases. With the help of survivalproportions available year-wise and the incidence, prevalence figures were arrived for selected cancer sites andfor selected periods. Results: The prevalence to incidence ratio (PI ratio) stabilized after a certain duration for allthe cancer sites showing that from the knowledge of incidence, the prevalence can be calculated. The stabilizedP/I ratios for the cancer sites of breast, cervix, ovary, stomach, lung, mouth and for life time was observed tobe 4.90, 5.33, 2.75, 1.40, 1.37, 4.04 and 3.42 respectively. Conclusions: The validity of the model approach tocalculate prevalence could be demonstrated with the help of survival data of Barshi registry for cervix cancer,available for the period 1988-2006.     

Cancer Incidence in North Cyprus (1990-2004) Relative to European Rates

Cancer incidence in North Cyprus (NC), deemed an interesting epidemiological case due to possiblecontrasting prevailing factors in relation to South and North Europe (SE and NE), was evaluated for the period1990-2004. Age standardized rates (ASRs) and average age of incidence (AAI) values were determined for 12different cancers, separately for males and females. Annual trends were analyzed using linear regression slopes.Absolute values were compared by two-tailed t-tests. The order of prevalence for incidences of male (M) cancerswere: lung, skin, colorectal, prostate, brain, bladder, liver and stomach. Similarly, for females (F) they were:breast, gynaecological, skin, colorectal, lung, liver, brain, stomach and bladder. The following cancer cases weremore common than in SE and NE: lung (M) and skin (both genders). Breast (F), prostate, stomach (F), bladder(both sexes), cervix and corpus were less frequent; the rest were comparable. There was no difference in theannual trends of ASR or AAI for NC, compared with SE or NE. Thus cancer incidence in NC shares manyquantitative features with the rest of Europe. The worst cases could be improved by reducing smoking andprotection from the sun.     

Trends in cancer mortality, France 1950-1985

Trends in mortality for main cancer sites in France between 1950 and 1985 are presented by sex. In the population aged 35-65, where long term trends can most reliably be assessed, an overall 1.1% mean annual increase is observed for males and a 0.6% mean annual decrease is observed for females. For males, this increase in total cancer mortality is mostly due to the sites associated with tobacco and alcohol. The important increase for lung cancer, and lesser increases for bladder, pancreas and kidney cancers are related to the increase in tobacco consumption from 4.7 g per adult per day in 1950 to 6.3 g in 1976. For cancer sites associated with alcohol and tobacco, namely oesophagus, pharynx, larynx, tongue and mouth, mortality is increasing similarly for males and for females, although these cancers are much less frequent among females. For females, the overall moderate decrease is mostly due to the decrease in cervix and stomach cancer mortality, uncompensated by the observed increase in breast cancer; there is no marked increase in lung cancer mortality for women, contrary to what is observed in other Western countries.     

An Epidemiological Study on Marital Status and Cancer Incidence

The relationship between marital status and cancer incidence was examined based on 49,191 incident cases aged 30 or over in 1980–1984 by using the data from Aichi Cancer Registry and census data. Although married and widowed people did not show increased incidence for any cancer site studied, single and divorced people showed statistically significantly increased or decreased risks for several sites of cancer. Single males showed an increased risk for esophageal cancer and a decreased risk for lung cancer. Divorced males showed increased risks for cancers of the mouth & pharynx, esophagus, liver, skin and brain. Single females showed increased risks for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, lung, breast, corpus uteri, ovary & fallopian tube and other female genital organs and a decreased risk for cervical cancer. Divorced females showed increased risks for cancers of the larynx, breast, all parts of uterus and cervix uteri and a decreased risk for biliary tract cancer. The increased risk for breast cancer in single females was more pronounced in older age groups and the increased risks for several sites of cancer in divorced people were more pronounced in younger age groups. These findings may be partly explained by differences in reproductive factors and life style, especially smoking and drinking habits.     

An epidemiological study on marital status and cancer incidence

The relationship between marital status and cancer incidence was examined based on 49,191 incident cases aged 30 or over in 1980-1984 by using the data from Aichi Cancer Registry and census data. Although married and widowed people did not show increased incidence for any cancer site studied, single and divorced people showed statistically significantly increased or decreased risks for several sites of cancer. Single males showed an increased risk for esophageal cancer and a decreased risk for lung cancer. Divorced males showed increased risks for cancers of the mouth & pharynx, esophagus, liver, skin and brain. Single females showed increased risks for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, lung, breast, corpus uteri, ovary & fallopian tube and other female genital organs and a decreased risk for cervical cancer. Divorced females showed increased risks for cancers of the larynx, breast, all parts of uterus and cervix uteri and a decreased risk for biliary tract cancer. The increased risk for breast cancer in single females was more pronounced in older age groups and the increased risks for several sites of cancer in divorced people were more pronounced in younger age groups. These findings may be partly explained by differences in reproductive factors and life style, especially smoking and drinking habits.     

Cancer incidence and survival in patients 65 years of age and older

The impact of cancer on persons 65 years of age and older has been assessed by examining incidence rates and survival rates. For all cancers combined, the incidence rate shown in Table 4 for males 65 and older (2,468.2 per 100,000) is four times the age-adjusted rate for males 45 to 64 years of age (586.7). For elderly females, the incidence rate is twice that for females aged 45 to 64 (1,401.1 versus 609.7). Ratios of incidence rates for older versus younger males are about four to five for cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, and urinary bladder, and for leukemia; about three for cancers of the lung and kidney, and for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; and 10 for cancer of the prostate. For females, the corresponding ratios are similar to those for males, although a little lower for cancers of the colon, rectum, and urinary bladder, and for leukemia, and a little higher for cancers of the stomach and pancreas. The ratios for breast, uterine cervix, uterine corpus, ovary, and lung are less than two. The relative survival rates for patients 65 and older are for many cancer sites only a few percentage points lower than rates for those 45 to 64 years of age (Table 5), suggesting that patients in this age group fare only a little worse than younger patients in escaping the effects of cancer once it has been diagnosed. Exceptions are cancer of the urinary bladder and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas for both men and women and cancers of the uterine cervix, uterine corpus, ovary, and kidney for women. For these sites, the survival rates for older patients are considerably lower than for their younger counterparts. For female breast cancer patients, there was no difference in the five-year relative survival rate for those 65 and older compared with those 45 to 64.