Lung cancer at Groote Schuur Hospital--a local perspective

Over a 1-year period (1 January 1987-31 December 1987) 401 patients at Groote Schuur Hospital with newly diagnosed lung cancer were evaluated prospectively. The mean age of the patients was 59 years (range 31-87 years); 251 were coloured (62%), 100 white (25%), 47 black (12%) and 3 Asian (1%), and 280 were men (70%). Smokers numbered 378 (95%). The median delay between the onset of symptoms and presentation was 13 weeks (range 0-65 weeks). The commonest cell type was squamous--127 patients (34%), followed by adenocarcinoma 84 (23%), undifferentiated 78 (21%), small-cell 48 (13%), large-cell 29 (8%) and other types in 5 (1%). At the time of diagnosis 228 patients (57%) had evidence of metastases. Forty-six patients (11%) underwent surgery, 46 (11%) received chemotherapy, 141 (35%) radiotherapy and 168 (42%) symptomatic treatment as initial management. The overall 1- and 2-year survival rates were 18% and 8% respectively.