Time trends in cancer incidence and mortality in central Italy

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Alexandria, Egypt; incidence rates and trend study (1995-2004)

During the past decades, the incidence of the most common non-Hodgkin's lymphomas has increased dramatically worldwide. In Egypt, it is the fifth most common cancer in both the sexes. The purpose of this study is to study the problem of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Alexandria, Egypt: incidence rates and trend. The method employed was record reviewing for estimation of the annual incidence rates of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and their trends. The general incidence rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 5.90 in 1995 and reached 8.99 in 2004, with a peak (9.40) in the year 2002. The male incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma demonstrated an obvious rise from 1995 to 1998, with a slowing from 1999 to 2002, followed by another evident rise from 2003. Women showed an increase in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence rates from 1995 to 2000, then a decline afterwards, till 2004. As regards the population from 15 to 60 years old, there was a rise through the period from 1994 to 1999, then a drop from 2000 to 2004. In the elderly group, the incidence rate was doubled during the 10 years (from 13.36/100 000 in 1995 to 26.65 in 2004). The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma increased steadily from 1995 to 2004 in Alexandria, particularly in the elderly population. The importance of developing additional strategies for screening and prevention of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in this group, on the basis of epidemiological evidences is warranted.

Unexpected additional increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer among a recent birth cohort in Switzerland

Data collected by the Swiss Cancer Registries Network (ASRT/VSKR) have been used to analyse trends in thyroid cancer during the last available 20 years, to make within-country geographical comparisons for current incidence rates. Age-standardized (European population) incidence rates per 100,000 for all morphologies combined ranges from 1.62 to 2.99 among males and from 2.13 to 8.09 among females in Switzerland. Regression analyses for both sexes combined detected an increase in time for papillary cases and a decrease for other types. Age-period-cohort analyses revealed that the youngest cohorts of men and women born after 1940 had an increased risk of all types of thyroid cancer while the cohort of people born between 1920 and 1939 were at increased risk of the papillary subtype. Assuming a higher sensitivity to ionizing radiation among the youngest people, a Chernobyl effect cannot be definitively excluded and continuous study of this topic should be encouraged.

Suicide mortality is decreasing among cancer patients in Central Italy

The objective of this study was to discover whether suicide mortality among patients diagnosed with cancer during the period 1985-1999 had decreased with calendar time in comparison to the rate in the general population. 90?197 cancer patients resident in Tuscany, Central Italy and incident during the period 1985-1999 were followed up for life status to 31 December 2000. The mortality codes for suicide were considered (E950-E959). Time trends for suicide rates were assessed by using Kernel smoothing estimators, standardised mortality ratios and Poisson analysis of the observed/expected ratios. The standardised mortality ratios were 324, 224, and 185 for cancer patients diagnosed during the periods 1985-1989, 1990-1994, and 1995-1999, respectively. Tests for linear trends were borderline significant (P=0.053). Suicide mortality among cancer patients in central Italy had decreased with calendar time relative to the suicide trend in the general population. Improved treatment options and better communication of diagnosis are possible explanations of this finding.