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Description

This third volume of Cancer in louslana provides new informatton on three general areas of cancer incidence : (1) - Time trends In two four-year periods (1974-1977 and 1978-1981). (2) - Comparison with other SEER registries. (3) - Age-specific Incidence curve . Additionally, a short summary of risk factors implicated for each cancer site ts provided. All data refer to invasive (and exclude "in situ") cancers. The information on time trends Is of great interest. It agrees with national trends of declining mortality rates for cancer of the cervix and stomach; it offers some hope that the rates of lung cancer are beginning to stabilize In white males; and it shows an Interesting contrast between rising rates of esophageal cancer and declining rates for cancer of the oral cavity, in spite of the simtlartty of their etiologic factors. A word of caution is indicated, especially when lnterpreting decines in incidence rates. As Indicated in the historical note on page 1. the Registry went through a period of uncertain survival, changes in administrative structure, and shortages of personnel around 1979 - 1981. Although all efforts for complete coverage were made, it is possible that some subregistratlon occurred, being felt most severely in the accrual of cases for 1980, which registered the lowest number of cases In any year for all cancers as well as for cancers of the oral cavity, colon, rectum, pancreas, uterine corpus, kidney, central nervous system, melanoma, and leukemia. The numbers of cases registered for all sites each year were as follows: 1974 = 3,473; 1975 = 3,639; 1976 = 3,683; 1977 = 3,910 ; 1978 = 3,894; 1979 =3,777; 1980 = 3,351; and 1981 = 3,588. It appears, then. that only in 1981 did the Registry begin to recover from the years of administrative problems. The dedication of part of the cigarette tax to cancer registration has been a very positive influence on the stability of the Registry. The above remarks indicate that any Increase in cancer rates between 1974 and 1980 is probably an underestimate and that a decline between the two time periods needs to be substantial to be of biologic significance. Some of the declines are "statistically significant" because these tests are greatly influenced by the number of cases under study. Most of them, however, may not be of biologic significance. Only future data will allow us to state which declines are reliable and which are artifactual . At the present time , the Registry is gradually expanding and is entering the era of greater mechanization of data management. These developments will enable us to provide more and better services to the community of our state.

Publication Date

1-1-1986

Publisher

Louisiana Tumor Registry

Comments

The Louisiana Tumor Registry can be reached at LTR-info@lsuhsc.edu

Cancer in Louisiana: Volume 3

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