Major Trends in Cancer:25 Year Survey

Abstract

In this survey of cancer trends, the data on survival, treatment and staging of disease at diagnosis have been compiled from information collected by the End Results Section of the National Cancer Institute and from collaborating hospitals. Mortality rates are from the National Center for Health statistics of the United States Public Health Service. Incidence data are from the national cancer surveys of the National Cancer Institute. Most cancer sites showed an initial increase in survival from the 1940's to the 1950's with a general levelling off from the 1950's to the 1960'. However, 5 yr survival rates have continued to increase steadily from the 1940's to the 1960' for the following cancers: prostate, 37% to 56%; uterine corpus, 61-74%; thyroid, 64-85%; kidney, 26-42%; bladder, 42-61%; larynx, 41-62%; melanoma(skin), 41-66%; Hodgkin's disease, 25-54% and chronic leukemia, 15-30%. From 1950 to 1970, death rates per 100,000 population decreased for the following cancers: uterine, 19 to 9; rectum, 8.4-5.7 in males and from 5.6-3.3 in females; stomach, 20.4-8.8 in males and from 11.1-4.3 in females; bladder, 2.6-1.8 in females, and lip 0.6-0.1 in males. The overall incidence of cancer has decreased slightly during the past 25 yr. From 1947 to 1969 the incidence of the following cancers decreased by the percentages given: stomach, 63%; uterus, 37%; bladder, 26%(females); rectum, 26%; esophagus, 23%, and ovary, 10%. Also, during the past 25 yr, cancer incidence increased 125% for lung; 27% for colon (males); 23%, prostate; 21%, pancreas and 21% bladder (males). The incidence of breast cancer and colon cancer in women has remained unchanged from 1947 to 1969.