Breast cancer survival in Rizal, Philippines, 1996-1997

The department of health-Rizal cancer registry (DOH-RCR) was the first population-based cancer registry in the Philippines, established in 1974. Even though cancer is reportable by legislation, cancer registration is pursued by active methods. Data on survival from cancer of the breast registered in 1996-1997 are reported. Followup was carried out by passive and active methods. The proportion of cases with a histological confirmation of cancer diagnosis was 90%; death certificates only (DCOs) constituted 6%; 81% of the total registered were included for the survival analysis. Complete follow-up at five years from the incidence date was 30%. Relative survival rates at one, three and five years were 89%, 56% and 37%, respectively. Five-year age-standardized relative survival was 35%. Five-year relative survival by age group did not display any pattern or trend, and was fluctuating. A majority of cases were diagnosed with a regional spread of disease (44%) followed by localized stage (17%). Five-year absolute survival ratesby extent of disease were localized (65%), regional (35%), distant metastasis (12%) and unknown (35%). Thetrend of 5-year survival for breast cancer decreased from 46% in 1987 to 37% in 1996-1997.