Cancer study residence can decide about life

The chances of survival of cancer are also dependent on the place of residence

26/11/2014

The diagnosis of cancer is a shock to those affected and their relatives. Physically and psychologically stressful therapies and the struggle for survival bring many cancer patients to their limits. In Germany, where, according to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), approximately 450,000 people develop malignant tumors each year, the care and thus the chances of recovery are good for many types of cancer. However, it looks much worse in less developed countries. A study now shows the impact of the place of residence on cancer survivors five years after diagnosis. Their findings were published by Claudia Allemani of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and her colleagues in the journal „The Lancet“.

In developed countries, the chances of survival in cancer are highest
The scientists compared the survival rates of approximately 25.7 million cancer patients from 67 countries in 1999 and 2009 five years after their illness. Patients were selected who were affected by one of the ten most common tumors, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lung, liver, breast, stomach, intestine, prostate, cervix and ovary tumors.

As it turned out, there is a clear gap between developed countries such as the US, UK and Germany, and less developed countries such as Indonesia, Mongolia and Jordan in terms of survival. The differences were particularly clear when comparing the survival rates of the 75,000 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common but well-treated type of cancer in children. While small patients still lived 90 percent five years after diagnosis in Austria, Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada, only 16 to 50 percent were in Jordan, Tunisia, Lesotho, Mongolia and Indonesia.

Countries should work more together to increase cancer survival rates
In colon and breast cancer, researchers reported increased survival rates, especially in developed countries - the US, Australia, European countries and South America. Thus, in this country, the chances of surviving colorectal cancer increased in the years between 1995 and 1999 by about 50 percent and between 2004 and 2009 to more than 60 percent. For breast cancer, no significant improvement in survival rates could be achieved in Germany during the study period. However, this type of cancer is already indicated with a chance of survival of 80 to 85 percent and is thus considered to be well treatable. In South-East Asia, patients with gastric cancer have the best chance of recovery. The odds of defeating ovarian tumors or cervical cancer have barely increased worldwide. But even in these cancers, patients in developed countries have better predictions. Tumors in the lungs and in the liver have the worst chance of recovery, with therapeutic success being about the same worldwide.

„The International Comparison of Survival Rates shows very large variations, probably due to differences in accessibility to screening and optimal treatment“, the researchers write in the journal. „Continual worldwide monitoring of cancer survival rates should become an indispensable source of information for cancer patients and researchers, and should help policymakers improve health policies and systems.“ The Länder could also look at forms of therapy among themselves and thus close existing gaps. (No)