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Cancer Patients’ Survival: Standard Calculation Methods And Some Considerations Regarding Their Interpretation


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Figure 1

The illustration of the choice of patients diagnosed between the years 2000 and 2009 that contribute to a relative survival calculation with cohort, complete and period approaches (top: a follow up untill the end of 2010) and those that contribute to the hybrid approach (bottom: a follow up untill the end of 2012).
The illustration of the choice of patients diagnosed between the years 2000 and 2009 that contribute to a relative survival calculation with cohort, complete and period approaches (top: a follow up untill the end of 2010) and those that contribute to the hybrid approach (bottom: a follow up untill the end of 2012).

Figure 2

The relative survival curves derived by cohort, complete, period and hybrid approaches, and Kaplan-Meier observed survival for Slovenian female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009.
The relative survival curves derived by cohort, complete, period and hybrid approaches, and Kaplan-Meier observed survival for Slovenian female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009.

The one- to ten-year relative survivals with 95% confidence intervals and Pohar Perme relative survival estimators for Slovenian female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009* derived by cohort, complete, period and hybrid approaches.

Follow-up timeCOHORT all patients diagnosed in 2000COMPLETE all patients diagnosed from 2000 to 2009PERIOD some patients diagnosed from 2000 to 2009

With period and hybrid approaches, only the most recently diagnosed survivors are included (the included incidence years are specified in Figure 1).

HYBRID some patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2009

With period and hybrid approaches, only the most recently diagnosed survivors are included (the included incidence years are specified in Figure 1).

Relative survival (95% confidence interval)Pohar Perme estimatorRelative survival (95% confidence interval)Pohar Perme estimatorRelative survival (95% confidence interval)Pohar Perme estimatorRelative survival (95% confidence interval)Pohar Perme estimator
1-year96 (94-97)9695 (95-96)9696 (92-99)9796 (92-99)97
2-year90 (87-92)9192 (91-92)9293 (89-96)9393 (89-96)93
3-year85 (82-87)8588 (87-89)8889 (85-92)9089 (86-92)90
4-year80 (77-83)8185 (84-86)8687 (83-91)8887 (84-90)88
5-year77 (74-80)7783 (82-84)8385 (81-89)8585 (82-88)86
6-year73 (70-77)7580 (79-81)8183 (79-86)8384 (80-87)83
7-year72 (68-75)7279 (77-80)8080 (76-84)8282 (78-85)82
8-year71 (67-74)7277 (75-78)7878 (74-82)7880 (76-83)79
9-year70 (66-74)7276 (74-77)7776 (72-80)7679 (75-82)78
10-year69 (65-73)7375 (73-76)7775 (71-79)7578 (74-81)77

The differences in the relative survival calculation approaches between and within major population-based cancer survival studies, aiming to compare cancer care in several countries.

Population-based relative survival follow-upDiagnosis year of included patientsEnd of follow-up yearRelative survival approach
CONCORD-1 (3)1990-19941999cohort
CONCORD-2 (4)1995-20042009cohort
CONCORD-2 (4)2005-20092009period
EUROCARE-4 (5)1995-19992003cohort
EUROCARE-4 (5)1996-20022003period
EUROCARE-5 (6)2000-20072008complete
EUROCARE-5 (6)1999-20072008period
OECD HCQI 2011 (7)1995-20042009not specified
OECD HCQI 2013 (8)1995-20092012period or cohort
eISSN:
1854-2476
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Hygiene and Environmental Medicine