Epidemiology - Cancer

Epidemiology

·        In NZ:

o   Over 16,000 new cases diagnosed per annum, 7000 deaths

o   Commonest cancers (incidence):

§  Male: prostate, large bowel, lung (incidence ~ mortality)

§  Females: breast, large bowel, melanoma

o   Commonest cause of death:

§  Male: lung, large bowel, prostate

§  Female: breast, lung, large bowel

·        Prognosis of cancer is determined by: 

o   Tumour related factors: accurate diagnosis, stage, grade, risk factors (eg biochemical markers), cytogenetics

o   Patient related factors: age, sex, co-morbidities