Report in English with a Dutch summary (KCE reports 45A)

KCE reports vol.45 Screening for Colorectal Cancer 31
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
was 57% in both males and females. Relative survival is a frequently used
parameter in cancer epidemiology and forms a good approach to diseasespecific
survival. The relative survival rates reflect an estimate of the expected
survival of cancer patients, in which causes of death other than cancer have
been left aside. Relative 5-year survival is calculated by dividing the observed
survival by the expected survival in a group of people with the same gender and
age structure from the general population.
Stage at diagnosis (TNM staging, 5th edition) is a strong predictor of survival43, 41,
as illustrated by Figure 9 and Figure 10 showing the observed and relative
survival curves respectively of patients with CRC by stage.
I II III IV Unknown
0%
0 12 24 36 48 60
III
Months
Unknown
VI
Figure 9: Invasive colorectal cancers: observed survival by stage over
5 years, 1997 2001 (source: Vlaams Agentschap Zorg en
Gezondheid 39)
I
II