Cancer survival in Izmir, Turkey, 1995-1997

The Izmir cancer registry, the first population-based cancer registry in Turkey, was established in 1992. Cancer registration is now done by active methods. The registry contributed data on survival for 12 cancer sites or types registered in 1995-1997. Follow-up was predominantly done by active methods with median follow-up ranging between 17-72 months for different cancers. The proportion with histologically verified diagnosis for various cancers ranged between 84-100%; there were no death certificate only (DCO) cases; 98-100% of total registered cases were included for the survival analysis. Complete follow-up at five years ranged from 79-98% for different cancers. Five-year age-standardized relative survival rates of common cancers were breast (77%), urinary bladder (70%), Larynx (69%), colon (53%), rectum (52%), non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (50%) and cervix (58%). Five-year relative survival by age group portrayed decreasing survival with increasing age at diagnosis for cancer of the cervix, and was fluctuating for other cancers. Decreasing survival with increasing clinical extent of disease was also noted.