BREAST-CANCER IN THE SOUTHEASTERN NETHERLANDS, 1960-1989 - TRENDS IN INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY

Temporal trends in incidence and mortality in breast cancer were exami ned in the southeastern Netherlands using data from the population-bas ed Eindhoven Cancer Registry. In the period 1960-1989 the incidence ra te of first primary breast cancer approximately doubled in all age gro ups. The increase mainly occurred before 1975 and after 1985, when no screening activities were performed. This trend appeared to be a resul t of an average yearly increase in incidence of localised and distant tumours with both 4.6%, whereas the incidence of regional tumours did not change. Simultaneously, breast cancer mortality remained unchanged in women aged under 60, and only increased by a yearly average of 0.7 % in women aged 60-74 and of 0.9% in women aged 75 and over. These dif fering trends in incidence and mortality, which can only partially be explained by earlier detection, suggest an improved survival of breast cancer.