Cancer registry data: actuarial survival estimation in lung cancer patients.

Using the Kaplan-Meier method, actuarial survival data were estimated in cancer patients registered in the Cancer Registry of Health Institute of Uranium Industry during 1976-1983, and in those followed up for 3 years and longer after the initiation of their treatment. Due to the specificity of this registry, a more detailed analysis was feasible in 639 lung cancer men. The estimated probabilities of survival over 5 and 10 years respectively, were: In all lung cancers 0.10 and 0.08, in all Stage I and II lung cancers 0.24 and 0.20, of them in epidermoid carcinomas 0.31 and 0.25, in radically operated tumors 0.51 and 0.43, of them in epidermoid carcinomas 0.54 and 0.45 respectively. The results confirmed the principal importance of early diagnosis of bronchogenic cancer, especially of epidermoid carcinoma, at a resectable stage.