Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the trends in incidence and mortality and estimate survival for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Western Australia. Case selection and methods: There were 1,336 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1982–98. Age‐standardised rates were calculated by the dir...

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Main Authors: Crystal L. Laurvick, James B. Semmens, C. D'Arcy J. Holman, Yee C. Leung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2003-12-01
Series:Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00604.x
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author Crystal L. Laurvick
James B. Semmens
C. D'Arcy J. Holman
Yee C. Leung
author_facet Crystal L. Laurvick
James B. Semmens
C. D'Arcy J. Holman
Yee C. Leung
author_sort Crystal L. Laurvick
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives: To investigate the trends in incidence and mortality and estimate survival for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Western Australia. Case selection and methods: There were 1,336 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1982–98. Age‐standardised rates were calculated by the direct method. Age‐period and age‐cohort models were analysed by Poisson regression. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to estimate survival and Cox proportional hazards regression evaluated the relative risk of dying. Results: Trends in age‐adjusted incidence and mortality rates showed little changed over the three time periods of diagnosis. A significant birth cohort effect showed a peak in the risk in the 1924 (mid‐year) cohort followed by a general decrease in both incidence and mortality risk. Survival at five years was 34% (95% CI 31.3–36.5) overall, but was only 27% (95% CI 17.4–36.7) among women with stage III and IV disease. Aboriginal women showed a risk of dying twice that of non‐Aboriginal women. Conclusions: The birth cohort analysis of ovarian cancer proved better at explaining disease trends than was time period of diagnosis. Survival continues to be poor, but Aboriginal women and those with serous and unspecified adenocarcinoma tumours fair much worse. Implications: As the leading cause of death from a gynaecological malignancy, ovarian cancer is of public health importance. Historical trends in birth rates and the use of oral contraceptives help to explain at least some of the observed birth cohort trends in this study. In the long term, an effective diagnostic technique needs to be developed or this disease will continue to be diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options for cure are limited.
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spelling doaj.art-47e90ed5b82b49d293c81bacf27cbf372023-09-02T15:11:09ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052003-12-0127658859510.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00604.xOvarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survivalCrystal L. Laurvick0James B. Semmens1C. D'Arcy J. Holman2Yee C. Leung3School of Population Health, University of Western AustraliaSchool of Population Health, University of Western AustraliaSchool of Population Health, University of Western AustraliaWestern Australia Gynaecological Oncology Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Western AustraliaAbstract Objectives: To investigate the trends in incidence and mortality and estimate survival for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Western Australia. Case selection and methods: There were 1,336 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1982–98. Age‐standardised rates were calculated by the direct method. Age‐period and age‐cohort models were analysed by Poisson regression. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to estimate survival and Cox proportional hazards regression evaluated the relative risk of dying. Results: Trends in age‐adjusted incidence and mortality rates showed little changed over the three time periods of diagnosis. A significant birth cohort effect showed a peak in the risk in the 1924 (mid‐year) cohort followed by a general decrease in both incidence and mortality risk. Survival at five years was 34% (95% CI 31.3–36.5) overall, but was only 27% (95% CI 17.4–36.7) among women with stage III and IV disease. Aboriginal women showed a risk of dying twice that of non‐Aboriginal women. Conclusions: The birth cohort analysis of ovarian cancer proved better at explaining disease trends than was time period of diagnosis. Survival continues to be poor, but Aboriginal women and those with serous and unspecified adenocarcinoma tumours fair much worse. Implications: As the leading cause of death from a gynaecological malignancy, ovarian cancer is of public health importance. Historical trends in birth rates and the use of oral contraceptives help to explain at least some of the observed birth cohort trends in this study. In the long term, an effective diagnostic technique needs to be developed or this disease will continue to be diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options for cure are limited.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00604.x
spellingShingle Crystal L. Laurvick
James B. Semmens
C. D'Arcy J. Holman
Yee C. Leung
Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
title Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
title_full Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
title_fullStr Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
title_full_unstemmed Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
title_short Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982–98): incidence, mortality and survival
title_sort ovarian cancer in western australia 1982 98 incidence mortality and survival
url https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00604.x
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