Cancer survival in Mumbai (Bombay), India, 1992-1999

The Bombay cancer registry is the second oldest population-based cancer registry in Asia, and the first of its kind in India. It was established in 1963, and registration of cases is done by active methods. Data on survival from 28 cancer sites or types registered during 1992-1999 are reported. Follow-up has been carried out predominantly by active methods, with median follow-up ranging between 1-51 months for different cancers. The proportion of histologically verified diagnosis for various cancers ranged between 41-100%; death certificates only (DCOs) comprised 0-15%; 84-99% of total registered cases were included for survival analysis. Complete follow-up at five years ranged from 85-92% for different cancers. The 5-year age-standardized relative survival rates for common cancers were breast (48%), cervix (44%), lung (11%), oesophagus (14%), oral cavity (35%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (34%). The 5-year relative survival by age group portrayed either an inverse relationship or was fluctuating. Cases with a regional spread of disease were the highest for cancers of the tongue, oral cavity, larynx and cervix; survival decreased with the increasing extent of disease for all cancers studied.