Have the recent advancements in cancer therapy and survival benefitted patients of all age groups across the Nordic countries? NORDCAN survival analyses 2002-2021

• Published in: Acta Oncologica
• Main Authors: Anna L.V. Johansson, Simon M. Kønig, Siri Larønningen, Gerda Engholm, Niels Kroman, Karri Seppä, Nea Malila, Bjarni Á. Steig, Eva Maria Gudmundsdóttir, Elínborg J. Ólafsdóttir, Frida E. Lundberg, Therese M.-L. Andersson, Paul C. Lambert, Mats Lambe, David Pettersson, Bjarte Aagnes, Søren Friis, Hans Storm
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2024
• Subjects: Cancer survival; Epidemiology; Denmark; Finland; Iceland; Norway; Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens; RC254-282
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2024.35094; https://doaj.org/article/1d2bd210e5194925b1a7ab5d106cf7d2

Background: Since the early 2000s, overall and site-specific cancer survival have improved substantially in the Nordic countries. We evaluated whether the improvements have been similar across countries, major cancer types, and age groups. Material and methods: Using population-based data from the five Nordic cancer registries recorded in the NORDCAN database, we included a cohort of 1,525,854 men and 1,378,470 women diagnosed with cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) during 2002–2021, and followed for death until 2021. We estimated 5-year relative survival (RS) in 5-year calendar periods, and percentage points (pp) differences in 5-year RS from 2002–2006 until 2017–2021. Separate analyses were performed for eight cancer sites (i.e. colorectum, pancreas, lung, breast, cervix uteri, kidney, prostate, and melanoma of skin). Results: Five-year RS improved across nearly all cancer sites in all countries (except Iceland), with absolute differences across age groups ranging from 1 to 21 pp (all cancer sites), 2 to 20 pp (colorectum), -1 to 36 pp (pancreas), 2 to 28 pp (lung), 0 to 9 pp (breast), -11 to 26 pp (cervix uteri), 2 to 44 pp (kidney), -2 to 23 pp (prostate) and -3 to 30 pp (skin melanoma). The oldest patients (80–89 years) exhibited lower survival across all countries and sites, although with varying improvements over time. Interpretation: Nordic cancer patients have generally experienced substantial improvements in cancer survival during the last two decades, including major cancer sites and age groups. Although survival has improved over time, older patients remain at a lower cancer survival compared to younger patients.