Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the most important malignancies in China. Survival rates of lung cancer on the population-based cancer registry for the years 2001-2007 in Qidong were analysed in order to provide the basis for the prognosis assessment and the control of this cancer. METHODS: Total 4,451 registered lung cancer cases was followed up to December 31st, 2009. Death certificates only (DCO) cases were excluded, leaving 4,382 cases for survival analysis. Cumulative observed survival rate (OS) and relative survival rate (RS) were calculated using Hakulinen's method performed by the SURV 3.01 software developed at the Finnish Cancer Registry. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 23.73%, 11.89%, 10.01%, and the RS rates were 24.86%, 13.69%, 12.73%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RS of males vs females were 23.70% vs 27.89%, 12.58% vs 16.53%, and 11.73% vs 15.21%, respectively, with statisitically significant differences (Chi2=13.77, P=0.032). RS of age groups of 15-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+ were 35.46%, 17.66%, 11.97%, 13.49%, 10.61%, 15.14%, respectively. Remarkable improvement could be seen for the 5-year RS in this setting if compared with that for the years 1972-2000. CONCLUSIONS: The lung cancer survival outcomes in Qidong have been improved gradually for the past decades. Further measures on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer should be taken.