Differences in treatment outcomes in selected cancers in Poland compared to other European countries in 2005–2009, based on CONCORD 2 study

Abstract

Background. The 5-year net survival rates show the outcomes of cancer treatment in population, therefore, they are one of the most important measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The standardized methodology in CONCORD 2 study of global cancer survival allows to compare the net survival in Poland with other European countries. The aim of this article was to assess the treatment in selected cancers in Poland and selected Polish voivodships in comparison to other European countries.

Methods. In our analyses the CONCORD 2 results, based on the data from population-based Cancer Registries for patients diagnosed: 2005–2009 and followed up to 2009, were used. The results regarding Poland included the data previously provided by the National Cancer Registry and four Regional Cancer Registries: Greater Poland, Świętokrzyskie, Lower Silesia and Podkarpackie. The Pohar Perme’s method called net survival was used to calculate the 5-year survival.

Results. The 5-year net survival in Poland was the lowest in Europe for patients diagnosed with prostate (74%), breast (74%), colon (50%), rectum (47%), stomach (19%), ovary (34%), cervical (53%) cancers. However, the survival for patients diagnosed with leukemias (49%) and lung cancer (13%) was on the average European level. The analysis of voivodships’ data proved the differences in the regions. The highest differences were for patients with leukemias in Lower Silesia and Świętokrzyskie (14%), prostate cancer in Greater Poland and Świętokrzyskie (10%), breast cancer in Greater Poland and Podkarpackie (6%), which showed differences in prevention and treatment standards.

Conclusions. The study showed the differences in 5-year net survival rates in Europe, which were unfavourable for Poland. Cancers that have good prognosis such as: prostate, breast, colon and rectum had the lowest survival rates in Europe, however, patients with lung cancer and leukemias were on the average European level.