Cancer survival in Korea 1993-2002: a population-based study.
Population-based survival reflect the average prognosis of unselected patients with a variety of natural histories as well as treatment patterns and are also useful for evaluating effectiveness and efficiency of cancer-directed health services in a given region. Although survival data have been reported based on hospital data, the survival data from population-based registry have been rarely reported in Korea. Based on the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, we report the results from survival analysis for cancer patients diagnosed during 1993-2002 and followed up until 31 December 2005 at primary cancer sites. The five-year relative survival rates (RSR) were calculated using the Ederer II method. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate median survival and the 95% confidence intervals. In males, the five-year RSR for all cancers was 32.5% during 1993-1997 and was 37.8% during 1998-2002. In females, the five-year RSR for all cancers was 53.7% during 1993-1997 and was 57.0% during 1998-2002. The largest improvement in survival was shown in prostate cancer in males and breast and stomach cancer in females. The median survival durations were 16.3 months in males and 81.6 months in females. This result will be useful for evaluation of cancer treatment outcomes in Korea.
Jung
Kyu Won
KW
Cancer Registration and Biostatistics Branch, National Cancer Control Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
Yim
Seon Hee
SH
Kong
Hyun Joo
HJ
Hwang
Soon Young
SY
Won
Young Joo
YJ
Lee
Jong Koo
JK
Shin
Hai Rim
HR
D016208:Databases, Factual; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate