[Methods of standardizing relative survival rates using rectal cancer in East Germany as an example]

Statistical analyses concerning survival of cancer patients are mostly based on the concept of relative survival rates, which besides the crude survival rates, calculated by the life-table-method, take into account the influence of other (competing) causes of death. But the use of relative survival rates by no means a full reduction of the influence of age. Methods for standardization of such rates will be presented and demonstrated on the data of the National Cancer Registry in GDR for rectum cancer in 1980.