Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

Survival from cancer in teenagers and young adults in England, 1979-2003

  • Jillian M Birch
    ,
  • Dong Pang
    ,
  • R D Alston
    ,
  • S Rowan
    ,
  • M Geraci
    ,
  • A Moran
  • University of Manchester
    ,
  • Office for National Statistics
    ,
  • Christie Hospital
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in teenagers and young adults aged 13–24 years (TYAs) in England. We have analysed national 5-year relative survival among more than 30 000 incident cancer cases in TYAs. For cancer overall, 5-year survival improved from 63% in 1979–84 to 74% during 1996–2001 (P<0.001). However, there were no sustained improvements in survival over time among high-grade brain tumours and bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Survival patterns varied by age group (13–16, 17–20, 21–24 years), sex and diagnosis. Survival from leukaemia and brain tumours was better in the youngest age group but in the oldest from germ-cell tumours (GCTs). For lymphomas, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and carcinomas, survival was not significantly associated with age. Females had a better survival than males except for GCTs. Most groups showed no association between survival and socioeconomic deprivation, but for leukaemias, head and neck carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma, survival was significantly poorer with increasing deprivation. These results will aid the development of national specialised service provision for this age group and identify areas of clinical need that present the greatest challenges.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 830-835

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

British Journal of Cancer (Volume 99, Issue 5)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/06/2012

Publication status

Published - 01/06/2012

ISSN

0007-0920

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/227181
  • Scopus: 50249159017

Access to documents

Publication metrics