COMPARISON OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF FEMALE BREAST-CANCER IN THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLIC AND THE ESTONIAN SSR, 1968-1980

Abstract

Some epidemiologic features of female breast cancer in the East Germany and the Estonian SSR [USSR] are compared on the basis of data from the cancer registries. From 1968-1980, 68,626 new breast cancer cases were reported in East Germany and 3768 in Estonia. Age-standardized incidence rates were consistently higher in East Germany. Increasing rates were present in both regions. The ratios of left to right sided lesions were 1.07 and 1.15 for East Germany and Estonia, respectively. Overall, 95.2% of breast cancers in East Germany and 80.6% in Estonia were histologically verified. Although some differences in stage at diagnosis were reported these may reflect classification practices. There was no evident change in stage at diagnosis over this time period. During 1968-1980, treatment with combined radical surgery and radiotherapy declined in both regions in favor of radical surgery alone. Some suggestions for future collaborative research are proposed.