Cancer survival in Lithuania after the restoration of independence: rapid improvements, but persisting major gaps

Following restoration of political independence in 1990, Lithuania underwent rapid societal and economic changes. We aimed to assess trends in cancer survival in the first two decades following these changes.

We used population-based data from the Lithuanian Cancer Registry and period analysis techniques to examine trends in one-, 2-5- and five-year relative survival between 1995-1999 and 2005-2009 for 24 common cancers in Lithuania.

Between 1995-1999 and 2005-2009, five-year relative survival increased significantly for 20 of 24 cancers, and for 10 cancers the increase exceeded 10% units. Five-year relative survival estimates reached 46%, 69% and 91% for colorectal, breast and prostate cancer in 2005-2009, respectively, while patients with testicular cancer, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had a five-year relative survival of 77%, 75% and 50%, respectively.

We found a rapid increase in survival for most forms of common cancers in Lithuania between 1995 and 2009. Nevertheless, several cancers with effective therapies exhibit considerable gaps compared with Northern and Western European countries. Despite ongoing rises in survival, mortality declines are not yet manifesting for important common cancers such as breast and colorectal cancer. Rapid incidence rises suggest that increases in survival for prostate and thyroid cancers are massively influenced by early detection-related effects. Improving the availability of effective therapies, and carefully planned early detection programs may help to increase cancer survival in Lithuania in the future.