BREAST-CANCER IN NORWAY 1970-1993 - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY ON INCIDENCE, MORTALITY AND SURVIVAL

The incidence, mortality and survival of breast cancer patients from 1 970 to 1993 were studied using data from the Cancer Registry of Norway . The age-adjusted incidence rate increased from 62.0 to 76.9 per 100 000 person-years during the period, and more than 2000 cases are now r egistered annually. The increase tends to be highest in the age group below 40 years. The increase is mainly found in cases with localized t umours at the time of diagnosis. The mortality rate has been almost un changed in the period; the age adjusted mortality rate is 27.0 per 100 000 person-years at the end of the study period. The 5-year overall s urvival has increased among cases with axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis; the other stages show only little improvemen t.