Lung cancer – changes in incidence by gender, age and county of residence 1984-2013.

BACKGROUND

The Cancer Registry of Norway has reported a decline in age-standardised lung cancer rates for men and an unconfirmed levelling-off in the rate for women. This study describes the development in trends according to gender and age, nationwide as well as by county.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Data on lung cancer from the Cancer Registry of Norway and the NORDCAN website are presented as age-specific and age-standardised rates by gender and place of residence, with a main emphasis on the period 1984-2013.

RESULTS

Out of 62,937 Norwegian lung cancer patients (1984-2013), altogether 63% were men. Nationally there was a decline in the rate for middle-aged men (50-69 years), but only a levelling-off in the oldest age group (≥ 70 years). For women, the rates increased in both age groups, most markedly in the oldest one. The rates for older men in the Agder, Vestfold and Finnmark counties have remained above the national average for a prolonged period, and there are only modest signs of a decline among the middle-aged. Oslo is a clear exception, with a clear and sustained decline among men in both age groups. Vest-Agder county had the highest rate for women during the last five-year period, while the rates in Oslo are now at the national average. The national rates for middle-aged women and middle-aged men are converging, intersecting each other in Akershus county.

INTERPRETATION

The large differences between genders, age groups, counties and nations in terms of trends in lung cancer indicate that through preventive efforts, we might have achieved much more in a shorter time.