Quality of Care Indicators for Head and Neck Cancers: The Experience of the European Project RARECAREnet.

Monitoring and improving quality of cancer care has become pivotal today. This is especially relevant for head and neck cancers since the disease is complex, it needs multi therapy, patients tend to be older, they tend to have comorbidities and limited social support. However, information on quality of care for head and neck cancers is scarce.

Survival of European adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in 2000-07: population-based data from EUROCARE-5.

Background: Data from EUROCARE have consistently shown lower survival for adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15-24 years) than for children (0-14 years) for most cancers that affect both groups, and modest survival improvements up to 2000-02. AYAs have longer survival than that of adults for most cancers. We used the latest definition of AYAs (aged 15-39 years) and provided estimates of 5-year relative survival for European AYAs with cancer diagnosed in 2000-07, compared with children and adults (40-69 years) with cancer, and assessed survival improvements over time.

Survival of male genital cancers (prostate, testis and penis) in Europe 1999-2007: Results from the EUROCARE-5 study.

Background: We provide updated estimates of survival and survival trends of male genital tumours (prostate, testicular and penis cancers), in Europe and across European areas.

Methods: The complete approach was used to obtain relative survival estimates for patients diagnosed in 2000-2007, and followed up through 2008 in 29 countries. Data came from 87 cancer registries (CRs) for prostate tumours and from 86 CRs for testis and penis tumours.

Cancer rehabilitation services: an Italian population-based cohort study.

Aims And Background: In Italy more than 55% of cancer patients live for more than 5 years after diagnosis, sometimes with several cancer-related sequelae. For this reason rehabilitation must offer not only physical interventions but also psychological, clinical, social and nutritional support. The CAREMORE pilot study was designed to assess whether cancer registries could serve to collect information on rehabilitation services, to describe and quantify the services provided by the National Health Service, and to examine the allocation of rehabilitation services to cancer patients.

Estimates of cancer burden in Sardinia.

Aims And Background: Cancer registration in Sardinia covers 43% of the population and started in 1992 in the Sassari province. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence, mortality and prevalence of seven major cancers for the entire region in the period 1970-2015.

Methods: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data.

Estimates of cancer burden in Puglia.

Aims And Background: A regional population-based cancer registry that provides incidence and survival data has become active only recently. Since it is important to know the time trends of basic epidemiological indicators to understand the cancer burden in the region, this paper will provide incidence, prevalence and mortality estimates in the region for seven major cancers for the period 1970-2015.

Methods: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data.

Estimates of cancer burden in Abruzzo and Molise.

Aims And Background: Abruzzo and Molise are two regions located in the south of Italy, currently without population-based cancer registries. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence for the Abruzzo and Molise regions combined.

Methods: The MIAMOD method, a back-calculation approach to estimate and project the incidence of chronic diseases from mortality and patient survival, was used for the estimation of incidence and prevalence by calendar year (from 1970 to 2015) and age (from 0 to 99).

Estimates of cancer burden in Lazio.

Aims And Background: Since 1983 a population-based cancer registry has been operating in Lazio which provides incidence and survival data and covers the entire Latina province, amounting to 10% of the regional population. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence, mortality and prevalence for seven major cancers in the Lazio region for the period 1970-2015.

Methods: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data.

Estimates of cancer burden in Marche.

Aims And Background: The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence, mortality and prevalence of seven major cancers in the Marche region for the period 1970-2015.

Methods: The MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach, was applied to derive incidence and prevalence figures from mortality and relative survival data. Published data from the Italian cancer registries were used as the basis for survival modeling.

Estimates of cancer burden in Umbria.

Aims And Background: Model-based estimates and projections of epidemiological indicators related to cancer are important tools to support public health policies and planning. The aim of the present study is to produce projections of cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence for the Umbria region (900,000 inhabitants) in central Italy.

Methods: The estimations were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data.

Estimates of cancer burden in Tuscany.

Aims And Background: The Tuscan cancer registry has been operating since 1985, providing cancer incidence and survival data in Tuscany; it covers about 33% of the regional population. The purpose of this paper is to provide incidence, prevalence and mortality estimates for the major cancers in the whole Tuscany region for the period 1970-2015.

Methods: The estimated figures were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method.

Estimates of cancer burden in Emilia-Romagna.

Aims And Background: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of mid-term epidemiological trends for the major cancer sites in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy (population 4,400,000).

Methods: The MIAMOD method, a back-calculation approach to estimate and project the incidence of chronic diseases from mortality and patient survival, was used for the estimation of incidence and prevalence by calendar year (from 1970 to 2015) and age (from 0 to 99). Survival estimates were taken from cancer registries of northeastern Italy.

Estimates of cancer burden in Liguria.

Aims And Background: The regional health care system of Liguria caters for a resident population which is among the oldest in Europe. One population-based cancer registry is present in the region, providing incidence and survival data for the Genoa province (covering 55% of the regional population). This paper will estimate the incidence, prevalence and mortality in the Liguria region for cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, colon-rectum, stomach and uterine cervix and melanoma of the skin in 1970-2015.

Estimates of cancer burden in Piedmont and Aosta Valley.

Aims And Background: Cancer registration in Piedmont currently covers the city of Turin and the province of Biella, together representing 24% of the regional population. The objective of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence and mortality rates and prevalence proportions for cancer of the lung, breast, cervix, prostate, colon-rectum and stomach and melanoma of the skin for 2012 and the time trends up to 2015 for the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions.

Methods: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data.

Survival and cure trends for European children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 1982 to 2002.

Proportion cured is a potentially more informative cancer outcome measurement than 5-year survival. We present population-based estimates of cure for young patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Europe from 1982 to 2002. Thirty-five European cancer registries provided data.

A method for differentiating cancer prevalence according to health status, exemplified using a population-based sample of Italian colorectal cancer cases.

Unlabelled: Cancer prevalence is the proportion of a population diagnosed with cancer. We present a method for differentiating prevalence into the proportions expected to survive without relapse, die of cancer within a year, and die of cancer within 10 years or survive with relapse at the end of the 10th year.

Material And Methods: The method was applied to samples of colorectal cancer cases, randomly extracted from four Italian cancer registries (CRs).

Rare thoracic cancers, including peritoneum mesothelioma.

Rare thoracic cancers include those of the trachea, thymus and mesothelioma (including peritoneum mesothelioma). The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, prevalence and survival of rare thoracic tumours using a large database, which includes cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 2002, registered in 89 population-based cancer registries (CRs) and followed-up to 31st December 2003. Over 17,688 cases of rare thoracic cancers were selected based on the list of the RACECARE project.

Carcinoma of endocrine organs: results of the RARECARE project.

The rarity or the asymptomatic character of endocrine tumours results in a lack of epidemiological studies on their incidence and survival patterns. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, prevalence and survival of endocrine tumours using a large database, which includes cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 2002, registered in 89 population-based cancer registries (CRs) with follow-up until 31st December 2003. These data give an unique overview of the burden of endocrine carcinomas in Europe.

Progress in colorectal cancer survival in Europe from the late 1980s to the early 21st century: the EUROCARE study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of death due to cancer causing death in Europe, accounting for more than 200,000 deaths per year. Prognosis strongly depends on stage at diagnosis, and the disease can be cured in most cases if diagnosed at an early stage. We aimed to assess trends and recent developments in 5-year relative survival in European countries, with a special focus on age, stage at diagnosis and anatomical cancer subsite.

Risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Falls are the main cause of accidental death in persons aged 65 years or older.

Methods: Using MEDLINE and previous reviews, we searched for prospective studies investigating risk factors for falls among community-dwelling older people. For risk factors investigated by at least 5 studies in a comparable way, we computed pooled odds ratios (ORs) using random-effects models, with a test for heterogeneity.

Is temperature an effect modifier of the association between green tea intake and gastric cancer risk?

We considered the relationship between green tea and gastric cancer risk in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Northeast China, an area with high baseline risk of stomach cancer. We used data from a case-control study conducted from 1987 to 1989 among 266 incident cases of stomach cancer and 533 controls admitted to the same hospitals as cases, with non-neoplastic and non-gastric diseases. No association emerged when tea consumption alone was considered: the odds ratio (OR) for green tea consumption was 0.

Citrus fruit and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies.

Background: Citrus fruit has shown a favorable effect against various cancers. To better understand their role in cancer risk, we analyzed data from a series of case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland.

Patients And Methods: The studies included 955 patients with oral and pharyngeal cancer, 395 with esophageal, 999 with stomach, 3,634 with large bowel, 527 with laryngeal, 2,900 with breast, 454 with endometrial, 1,031 with ovarian, 1,294 with prostate, and 767 with renal cell cancer.

Alcohol and breast cancer risk defined by estrogen and progesterone receptor status: a case-control study.

Background: Alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk. Some studies suggested that this association is stronger or limited to tumors expressing estrogen receptors (ER).

Methods: We investigated the role of alcohol according to ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status in a case-control study on breast cancer conducted from 1991 to 1994 in three Italian areas.

Family history of cancer and stomach cancer risk.

A family history of stomach cancer in first-degree relatives increases the risk of stomach cancer, but uncertainties remain as concerns the variation of the risk according to age, sex and type of relative, as well as on the role of family history of other cancers. We investigated the issue using data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy between 1997 and 2007 on 230 cases aged not more than 80 years, with histologically confirmed incident gastric cancer and 547 controls admitted to hospital for acute, non neoplastic conditions. Logistic regression models adjusted for the effect of sex, age, year of interview, education, body mass index (BMI), tobacco smoking and number of brothers and sisters were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of stomach cancer.