Survival from cancer in teenagers and young adults in England, 1979–2003
2008

Cancer Survival in Teenagers and Young Adults in England

Sample size: 31876 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Birch J M, Pang D, Alston R D, Rowan S, Geraci M, Moran A, Eden T O B

Primary Institution: University of Manchester

Hypothesis

How has cancer survival changed for teenagers and young adults in England from 1979 to 2003?

Conclusion

Overall, cancer survival for teenagers and young adults in England improved significantly over the study period, but certain cancer types showed no improvement.

Supporting Evidence

  • 5-year survival improved from 63% in 1979–84 to 74% during 1996–2001.
  • Survival patterns varied by age group, sex, and diagnosis.
  • Females had better survival rates than males except for germ-cell tumours.

Takeaway

This study looked at how well teenagers and young adults survive cancer in England over many years. It found that while survival rates have generally improved, some types of cancer still have poor outcomes.

Methodology

The study analyzed national cancer registration data for teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer in England from 1979 to 2001, following up until 2003.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from socioeconomic factors affecting survival rates.

Limitations

The study may not fully capture all cases due to exclusions based on unknown vital status and zero survival time.

Participant Demographics

Teenagers and young adults aged 13–24 years diagnosed with cancer.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604460

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