TY - JOUR

T1 - Incidence and survival from lung cancer in Greenland is comparable to survival in the Nordic countries

AU - Gelvan, Allan

AU - Risum, Signe

AU - Langer, Seppo W

PY - 2015/4

Y1 - 2015/4

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Oncological treatment of lung cancer has been available in Greenland since 2004. We evaluated patient characteristics and survival rates for the first six years of local lung cancer treatment.METHODS: From September 2004 to August 2010, a total of 173 patients with lung cancer were referred to treatment at Queen Ingrid's Hospital. On 1 February 2014, treatment results, survival, and prognostic variables were analysed.RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 63 years. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was diagnosed in 145 patients (84%); 56% had squamous cell carcinoma, 34% had adenocarcinoma, 2% had large cell carcinoma and 8% had NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS). In all, 28 (16%) had small cell lung cancer. A total of 142 patients (82%) received treatment; 20 underwent surgery (ten stage Ib, one stage IIa, five stage IIb, four stage IIIa); palliative chemotherapy was given to 122 of the 142 treated patients (86%). Of these, 36 patients (30%) received second-line chemotherapy.The median survival of patients undergoing primary lobectomy/pneumonectomy, palliative chemotherapy, and no treatment was 76.3 months, 11.8 months, and 2.0 months, respectively (p < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the first six years of lung cancer treatment in Greenland revealed a disease incidence and survival comparable to those found in the Nordic countries. To further decrease mortality from lung cancer, health-care resources should continue to be allocated to the prevention and treatment of lung cancer in Greenland.FUNDING: not relevant.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Oncological treatment of lung cancer has been available in Greenland since 2004. We evaluated patient characteristics and survival rates for the first six years of local lung cancer treatment.METHODS: From September 2004 to August 2010, a total of 173 patients with lung cancer were referred to treatment at Queen Ingrid's Hospital. On 1 February 2014, treatment results, survival, and prognostic variables were analysed.RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 63 years. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was diagnosed in 145 patients (84%); 56% had squamous cell carcinoma, 34% had adenocarcinoma, 2% had large cell carcinoma and 8% had NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS). In all, 28 (16%) had small cell lung cancer. A total of 142 patients (82%) received treatment; 20 underwent surgery (ten stage Ib, one stage IIa, five stage IIb, four stage IIIa); palliative chemotherapy was given to 122 of the 142 treated patients (86%). Of these, 36 patients (30%) received second-line chemotherapy.The median survival of patients undergoing primary lobectomy/pneumonectomy, palliative chemotherapy, and no treatment was 76.3 months, 11.8 months, and 2.0 months, respectively (p < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the first six years of lung cancer treatment in Greenland revealed a disease incidence and survival comparable to those found in the Nordic countries. To further decrease mortality from lung cancer, health-care resources should continue to be allocated to the prevention and treatment of lung cancer in Greenland.FUNDING: not relevant.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Carcinoma, Large Cell/epidemiology

KW - Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/epidemiology

KW - Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/epidemiology

KW - Cause of Death

KW - Chemotherapy, Adjuvant

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Combined Modality Therapy

KW - Disease-Free Survival

KW - Female

KW - Greenland/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Incidence

KW - Lung Neoplasms/mortality

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology

KW - Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality

KW - Neoplasm Staging

KW - Pneumonectomy/methods

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Risk Assessment

KW - Scandinavian and Nordic Countries/epidemiology

KW - Survival Analysis

KW - Treatment Outcome

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25872548

VL - 62

SP - A5033

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

SN - 2245-1919

IS - 4

ER -