Favorable changes in the survival of patients with cancers of digestive organs – Poland, 2000–2019

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to estimate cancer survival in Poland in 2000–2019 for malignant neoplasms of digestive organs, namely for cancer of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colorectum, anus, liver and intrahepatic bile ducts, gallbladder, other and unspecified parts of the biliary tract and pancreas. Methods Data were obtained from the Polish National Cancer Registry and age-standardized 5- and 10-year net survival was estimated. Results Overall, 534 872 cases were included in the study, reflecting a total of 3 178 934 years of life lost within the 2 decades of observation. Colorectal cancer represented both the highest 5-year and 10-year age-standardized net survival (5-year net survival: 53.0%, 95% confidence interval, 52.8–53.3%; 10-year net survival: 48.6%, 48.2–48.9%). Between 2000–2004 and 2015–2019, the highest statistically significant increase in age-standardized 5-year survival was noted for the small intestine at +18.3 percentual points (P < 0.001). The male-female incidence ratio disparity was the highest for esophageal (4:1) and anus and gallbladder cancer (1:2). The highest standardized mortality ratios were observed in esophageal and pancreatic cancer (23.9, 23.5–24.2 and 26.4, 26.2–26.6, respectively). Overall, death hazard ratios were lower for women (hazard ratio = 0.89, 0.88–0.89, P < 0.001). Conclusion In most cancers, there were statistically significant differences between sexes for all studied metrics. In the last 2 decades, survival for digestive organ cancers has increased considerably. Special attention should be given to liver, esophagus, pancreatic cancer survival and the disparities between sexes.