Trends in the survival of patients diagnosed with cancers of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx in the Nordic countries 1964-2003 followed up to the end of 2006.
BACKGROUND
This is the first comprehensive population-based study on relative survival of lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer in the Nordic countries.


METHODS
Relative survival of patients with cancers of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx diagnosed in the Nordic countries in 1964-2003 and followed up to the end of 2006 was studied and contrasted with trends in incidence and mortality.


RESULTS
There are marked differences in incidence between countries and over time. The stability of the relative survival ratios gives support to the hypothesis that the incidence differences are more likely to be real and not materially affected by differences in definitions and coding. Of particular note are the steep rises in pharyngeal cancer incidence in Denmark in both sexes. Survival has only moderately improved over time and has tended to be slightly higher in females than males.


CONCLUSIONS
Co-morbidity caused by smoking and high alcohol consumption are likely to be partially responsible for differences between countries. Advances in therapy and standards of care are also likely to have played a role in the increasing survival trends.
Hakulinen
Timo
T
Finnish Cancer Registry, Pieni Roobertinkatu 9, Helsinki, Finland. timo.hakulinen@cancer.fi
Tryggvadóttir
Laufey
L
Gislum
Mette
M
Storm
Hans H
HH
Bray
Freddie
F
Klint
Asa
A
Engholm
Gerda
G
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology