Time trends in cancer mortality in the Federal Republic of Germany: progress against cancer?
In accordance with a previous analysis of US cancer mortality, this report also indicates that cancer mortality in the FRG over the last 3 decades (1952-1985) has not shown any decline commencing in a given period and prevailing in all age groups. If present, such effects could have been interpreted as a manifestation of improvements associated with cancer treatment. The absence of such an effect, derived by using data up to 1985 and age-specific mortality rates, supports the view expressed in the US analysis that improvements in cancer treatment are unlikely to have an impact on overall cancer mortality statistics and that efforts toward prevention may be more rewarding.
Becker
N
N
German Cancer Research Center, Institute of Epidemiology and Biometry, Heidelberg, Iowa City, IA.
Smith
E M
EM
Wahrendorf
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors