Lung cancer in Slovenia
Pljučni rak v Sloveniji

english

2008

volume 13, issue 29

Slovenia 

Slovensko zdravniško društvo, Združenje za endoskopsko kirurgijo

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in males and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.The highest incidence rates are observed in Eastern Europe and North America for males andin North-West Europe and North America for females. In Slovenia, lung cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancerin males until 2004. In 2005, when 846 new lung cancer cases were registered, lung became the second most common site of cancer after prostate. With 299 newly diagnosed cases, lung cancer was the fifth most frequent cancerin females in 2005. There are no consistent differences in lung cancer geographical distribution; between 1998 and 2002, the incidence rates were highest in the statistical region of Zasavje. While crude incidence rates of lung cancer have been constantly increasing, in part as as a result of the population ageing, the relative increase during the period 1986-2005 was greater in females. In males, the age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer has been decreasing by 1.6% yearly since 1993, and one year later, mortality rates began to exhibit a downward trend too. Squamous cell carcinomais the most frequent histological type of cancer in males. Its proportion began to decrease in contrast to adenocarcinomas that shows an unward trend. Adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma are the most common histological types among females, with adenocarcinoma also increasing. Five-year relative survival rates based on data from the Cancer Registry of Slovenia have been slowly increasing: from 7% and 10% in male and female patients diagnosed between 1973 and 1977 to 12% and 13% for males and females diagnosed during the period 2001-2005. Even though other risk factors besides tobacco use have been implicated in the aetiology of lung cancer, smoking prevention and control remains the most important measure to decrease the burden of lung cancer.

16.09.2009