Cancer survival

5-year relative cancer survival higher in North America and Australia than Europe.

Source: Lancet Oncol 2008; 9: 30-756

Relative survival measures the extent to which patients with cancer have a higher death rate than the general population of the country they live in. Five-year relative survival for breast cancer was over 80% in North America, Japan and Australia, compared with 73% in Europe. Relative survival for prostate cancer was highest in North America (91%) and lowest in Japan (50%). Relative survival for colorectal cancer was about 60% in North America, Japan and Australia, but was less than 50% in Europe.

Within Europe there was wide variation in relative survival. For breast cancer relative survival ranged from about 80% in Finland, France and Italy, while it was only 63% in Poland. The five-year relative survival for prostate and colorectal cancer in Poland was about half that seen in France.

The variation in survival is likely to be attributable to differences in access to diagnostic and treatment services. The differences in Europe may be related to economic developments, as measured by total national expenditure on health.

5- year relative survival for breast and prostate cancer