Survival of colorectal cancer patients in Europe during the period 1978-1989

This study concerns the survival of European patients diagnosed between 197 8 and 1989 with colorectal cancer. Variations in survival in relation to ag e, country and period of diagnosis were examined. Data from the EUROCARE st udy were supplied by population-based cancer registries in 17 countries to a common protocol. Five years after diagnosis, relative survival rates were 47 and 43% for cancers of the colon and rectum, respectively. Survival dec reased with increasing age: the relative risk of dying for the oldest patie nts (75 +) was 1.39 for rectum and 1.54 for colon compared with the younges t patients (15-44 years). In 1985-1989 survival fi-om colorectal cancer dif fered significantly between different European countries: the Nordic countr ies (Denmark excluded), The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Austria we re characterised by high survival, whilst Eastern European countries, the U .K. and Denmark were characterised by low survival. There was a general imp rovement in survival over the period 1978-1989: from 40 to 48% for colon ca ncer and 38 to 46% for rectal cancer. For neither cancer site did between-c ountry survival differences narrow over the study period. Intercountry and time differences in survival differences are probably related to stage at d iagnosis and postoperative mortality. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.