Incidence and survival from lung cancer in Greenland is comparable to survival in the Nordic countries

• Main Authors: Gelvan, Allan, Risum, Signe, Langer, Seppo W
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Aged; 80 and over; Carcinoma; Large Cell/epidemiology; Non-Small-Cell Lung/epidemiology; Squamous Cell/epidemiology; Cause of Death; Chemotherapy; Adjuvant; Cohort Studies; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Greenland/epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Lung Neoplasms/mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology; Neoplasm Recurrence; Local/mortality; Neoplasm Staging; Pneumonectomy/methods; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries/epidemiology; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Greenland
• Online Access: https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/incidence-and-survival-from-lung-cancer-in-greenland-is-comparable-to-survival-in-the-nordic-countries(4c04a73b-80ef-4029-8d2b-24f2ad567513).html

INTRODUCTION: Oncological treatment of lung cancer has been available in Greenland since 2004. We evaluated patient characteristics and survival rates for the first six years of local lung cancer treatment. METHODS: From September 2004 to August 2010, a total of 173 patients with lung cancer were referred to treatment at Queen Ingrid's Hospital. On 1 February 2014, treatment results, survival, and prognostic variables were analysed. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 63 years. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was diagnosed in 145 patients (84%); 56% had squamous cell carcinoma, 34% had adenocarcinoma, 2% had large cell carcinoma and 8% had NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS). In all, 28 (16%) had small cell lung cancer. A total of 142 patients (82%) received treatment; 20 underwent surgery (ten stage Ib, one stage IIa, five stage IIb, four stage IIIa); palliative chemotherapy was given to 122 of the 142 treated patients (86%). Of these, 36 patients (30%) received second-line chemotherapy.The median survival of patients undergoing primary lobectomy/pneumonectomy, palliative chemotherapy, and no treatment was 76.3 months, 11.8 months, and 2.0 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the first six years of lung cancer treatment in Greenland revealed a disease incidence and survival comparable to those found in the Nordic countries. To further decrease mortality from lung cancer, health-care resources should continue to be allocated to the prevention and treatment of lung cancer in Greenland. FUNDING: not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.