Recent trends in cancer mortality in the UK

Abstract

Comparisons of survival rates of given diseases with different treatments or in different places often gave misleading results until the introduction of controlled trials. Recent reports of relatively low survival rates following the treatment of cancer in the UK compared to the rates in other countries, not based on controlled trials, may consequently be misleading. Their validity has, therefore, been tested by comparing the levels and trends in mortality--the ultimate criterion by which the success or failure of any system of care can be judged. For this purpose, rates and trends in rates over 20-50 years have been compared in five European countries of similar economic status (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK). The UK rates are not generally worse than those in the other countries and are sometimes better. Exceptions were cancer of the lung, large bowel, and breast, the first of which is explained by differences in the prevalence of smoking.

Figure 1

Five EU countries, 1979–2001, Males: testis cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 2

Five EU countries, 1979–2002, Males: Hodgkin's disease mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 3

Five EU countries, 1979–2002, Females: Hodgkin's disease mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 4

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Males: stomach cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 5

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Females: stomach cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 6

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Males: lung cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 7

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Females: lung cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 8

Trends in lung cancer at ages 40–44 and past cigarette smoking in men and women in France 1950–2000. (A) Average number of cigarettes per day between age 15 and 42.5, population aged 40–44. (B) Lung cancer death rate, population aged 40–44.

Figure 9

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Females: breast cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 10

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Males: prostate cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 11

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Males: colorectal cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 12

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Females: colorectal cancer mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 13

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Males: all cancer (excl. lung) mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 men, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.

Figure 14

Five EU countries, 1950–2002, Females: all cancer (excl. lung) mortality at all ages. ^*Annual rates per 100 000 women, standardised to conventional European age distribution. Source: WHO mortality and UN population estimates.