SURVIVAL PATTERNS OF FEMALE BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS IN THE ESTONIAN SSR IN 1968-1981

Abstract

Survival of 4090 female breast cancer patients in the Estonian SSR [USSR] in 1968-1981 was studied on the basis of the republic-wide, population-based Estonian Cancer Registry. Using the life table method, the overall estimated 5-yr relative survival rate was 55.9%. Survival was related to stage of disease and patient''s age at diagnosis. Breast cancer, the most frequent malignancy in females in Estonia, considerable reduces patient''s life expectancy. During the entire 13-yr follow-up period the patient population under study experienced excess cancer mortality.