Malignant neoplasms of breast and female genital organs (C50, C51-C58) in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer (C50) and neoplasms of female genital organs (C51-C58) represent one of the most frequent cancer groups among females in economically developed countries. The Institute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County in collaboration with different county institutes provide updated information on the cancer occurrence and trends in the Osijek-Baranja County (OBC). The aim of this article is to provide information on the tendencies relating to these cancer groups in the OBC during the period from 2001 to 2009, which will be the first report on these cancer sites on a county level in Croatia. This article processes data on cancer incidence and mortality, appertaining age distribution, median age, cancer survival and length of stay in the county hospitals collected in period 1996-2010. In the OBC, the overall incidence rates of breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri and ovary cancer were, using the EU standard population, 82.9, 13.0, 19.0 and 14.5/100,000, respectively, and are all characterized by a declining tendency in the second period except breast can- cer. The overall breast incidence rate resembles the Croatian average and way exceeds the corresponding Central and Eastern Europe incidence rates, but is still bellow the Northern Europe ones. Also, the overall mortality rates of breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri and ovary cancer were 29.6, 5.0, 8.1 and 9.6/100,000, respectively, and are all featured by a increasing tendency. The cancer 5-year relative survival rate from breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri and ovary cancer in period 2001-2005 amounted to 64.2%, 66.1%, 57.4% and 43.0%, respectively. The overall median ages at diagnosis of breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri and ovary cancer totalled 61.9, 56.4, 66.4 and 60.8 years, respectively, while the median ages at death from these cancers were 68.7, 65.7, 70.3 and 67.6 years, respectively. During the entire 9-year period, the average length of stay in hospital due to breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri and ovary cancer were 12.1, 14.8, 18.5 and 11.3 days, respectively. The length of stay in hospital decreased for all but for ovary cancer. Implementation and consolidation of women's awareness of these cancers and relating early diagnostic activities within the OBC population seem to be the most effective ways to reduce the appertaining risks and thus to encourage changes in the lifestyle.