Zeng H, et al. - Between 2003 to 2005, researchers gauged the standardised 5-year cancer survival statistics in China in order to comprehend the overall effectiveness of cancer care. A substantial overall increase was reported in the cancer survival from 2003 to 2015 in the population covered by these cancer registries in China. This, in turn, could depict advances in the quality of cancer care in these areas. It was determined that the survival gap between urban and rural areas narrowed over time. However, geographical differences existed in the cancer survival. It was deduced that an insight into these trends would assist in prioritizing the areas that warranted increased cancer care.

Methods

• Population-based data was extracted from 17 cancer registries in China.
• Data was submitted by the end of July 31, 2016, with follow-up data on vital status obtained on Dec 31, 2015.
• Anonymised, individual cancer registration records were analyzed of patients (aged 0-99 years) diagnosed with primary, invasive cancers from 2003 to 2013.
• Inclusion criteria included subjects who had data for demographic characteristics, date of diagnosis, anatomical site, morphology, behaviour code, vital status, and last date of contact.
• According to sex, age, and geographical area, the 5-year relative survival was determined for all cancers combined and 26 different cancer types, between 2003 and 2015.
• This was followed by stratification of the survival estimates by calendar period (2003-05, 2006-08, 2009-11, and 2012-15).

Results

• A total of 678,842 records were inspected of patients with invasive cancer who were diagnosed between 2003 and 2013.
• Among these, 659,732 (97.2%) met the inclusion criteria.
• From 2003-05 to 2012-15, a significant rise was found in the age-standardised 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined, for both male and female patients, from 30.9% (95% CI 30.6-31.2) to 40.5% (40.3-40.7).
• Additionally, an increase was also noted in the age-standardised 5-year relative survival for most cancer types, with the inclusion of cancers of the uterus (average change per calendar period 5.5% [95% CI 2.5-8.5]), thyroid (5.4% [3.2-7.6]), cervix (4.5% [2.9-6.2]), and bone (3.2% [2.1-4.4]).
• In 2012-15, higher age-standardised 5-year survival was determined for all patients with cancer in urban areas (46.7%, 95% CI 46.5-47.0) vs rural areas (33.6%, 33.3-33.9).
• The exception included patients with oesophageal or cervical cancer.
• However, greater improvements were disclosed for candidates residing in rural areas compared to urban areas.
• Findings illustrated a decrease in the relative survival with increasing age.
• As per the data, the increasing trends in survival appeared to be consistent with the upward trends of medical expenditure of the country during the period studied.