Cancer of the stomach in New Zealand: 1970-74.

A total of 1,891 new cases of cancer of the stomach occurred in New Zealand (1971 population 2,862,631) in the five years 1970-74. There was a higher incidence in men than women and in Maoris compared to Europeans. The disease had declined in incidence by about 50% in 20 years. Most of the cancers occurred in the distal stomach and were described as adenocarcinomas. Seventy percent of the patients had a lymph node metastases or advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Only 39% were able to have resectional surgery and in 57% specific therapy was not given. The estimated crude five year survival rate of all patients was 7.8% (relative rate 10.2%) and the crude five year survival rate after resectional surgery was 18.7% (relative rate 24.7%). The most important variables affecting survival were the stage of the disease and the age of the patient.