RISK OF 2ND MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS FOLLOWING FEMALE GENITAL-TRACT CANCERS IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES (AUSTRALIA), 1972-91

Data from the New South Wales (NSW) Central Cancer Registry for 1972-9 1 were examined to determine the risk of a second primary cancer follo wing an initial invasive cancer of the cervix uteri (ICD-9 180), corpu s uteri (ICD-9 182), ovary (ICD-9 183) or 'other female genital organs ' (ICD-9 184). Expected numbers of cancers were obtained by assuming t hat women with a cancer of the female genital tract experienced the sa me cancer incidence as the female population of NSW as a whole. The re lative risk (RR) of a second primary cancer was the ratio of observed to expected numbers of second cancers, excluding those of the female g enital tract. Following cervical cancer, significantly increased risks were found for cancer of the larynx (RR = 7.43), lung (RR = 3.64), bl adder (RR = 3.36) and for all tobacco-related sites (excluding cervix and bladder) grouped together (RR = 2.54). A nonsignificant excess of anal cancer (RR = 4.23) was also seen. After an initial cancer of the corpus uteri significantly increased risks were found for colorectal ( RR = 1.35), breast (RR = 1.36) and bladder cancers (RR = 1.95). The ex cess of colorectal cancer bordered on significance (RR = 1.43) but the re was no increased risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.02) after ovarian ca ncer. The data illustrate the need for surveillance of women with cerv ical cancer for further tobacco-related cancers, and the risk of treat ment-initiated neoplasms.