Survival from cancer in teenagers and young adults in England, 1979-2003

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in teenagers and young adults aged 13-24 years (TYAs) in England. We have analysed national 5-year relative survival among more than 30,000 incident cancer cases in TYAs. For cancer overall, 5-year survival improved from 63% in 1979-84 to 74% during 1996-2001 (P<0.001). However, there were no sustained improvements in survival over time among high-grade brain tumours and bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Survival patterns varied by age group (13-16, 17-20, 21-24 years), sex and diagnosis. Survival from leukaemia and brain tumours was better in the youngest age group but in the oldest from germ-cell tumours (GCTs). For lymphomas, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and carcinomas, survival was not significantly associated with age. Females had a better survival than males except for GCTs. Most groups showed no association between survival and socioeconomic deprivation, but for leukaemias, head and neck carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma, survival was significantly poorer with increasing deprivation. These results will aid the development of national specialised service provision for this age group and identify areas of clinical need that present the greatest challenges.

Figure 1

Relative survival of cancer patients aged 13–24 years, diagnosed between 1979 and 2001 in England, by calendar period.