Survival of Women with Cancers of Breast and Genital Organs in Europe 1999-2007: Results of the EUROCARE-5 Study

Background: Survival differences across Europe for patients with cancers of breast, uterus, cervix, ovary, vagina and vulva have been documented by previous EUROCARE studies. In the present EUROCARE-5 study we update survival estimates and investigate changes in country-specific and over time survival, discussing their relationship with incidence and mortality dynamics for cancers for which organised screening programs are ongoing.

Methods: We analysed cases archived in over 80 population-based cancer registries in 29 countries grouped into five European regions. We used the cohort approach to estimate 5-year relative survival (RS) for adult (⩾15years) women diagnosed 2000-2007, by age, country and region; and the period approach to estimate time trends (1999-2007) in RS for breast and cervical cancers.

Results: In 2000-2007, 5-year RS was 57% overall, 82% for women diagnosed with breast, 76% with corpus uteri, 62% with cervical, 38% with ovarian, 40% with vaginal and 62% with vulvar cancer. Survival was low for patients resident in Eastern Europe (34% ovary-74% breast) and Ireland and the United Kingdom [Ireland/UK] (31-79%) and high for those resident in Northern Europe (41-85%) except Denmark. Survival decreased with advancing age: markedly for women with ovarian (71% 15-44years; 20% ⩾75years) and breast (86%; 72%) cancers. Survival for patients with breast and cervical cancers increased from 1999-2001 to 2005-2007, remarkably for those resident in countries with initially low survival.

Conclusions: Despite increases over time, survival for women's cancers remained poor in Eastern Europe, likely due to advanced stage at diagnosis and/or suboptimum access to adequate care. Low survival for women living in Ireland/UK and Denmark could indicate late detection, possibly related also to referral delay. Poor survival for ovarian cancer across the continent and over time suggests the need for a major research effort to improve prognosis for this common cancer.