Summary: Overal cancer incidence rates increased more rapidly and at higher levels in males. Cancer mortality at all sites in males showed also substantial rise, while in females remained fairly stable. Lung cancer has decisive role for overall cancer incidence and mortality rates in males. The increasing incidence in females was influenced mainly by constantly rising rates of breast and genital organ cancers. Nearly all other cancer sites showed more or less expressed increase in incidence in both sexes. Slight reduction of invasive uterine cervix cancer has been seen, while stomach cancer remained despite substantial fall at quite high levels. Divergent mortality trends and consequently the increasing overmortality of males could be attributed also to high lung cancer rates as well as to the improving prognosis of female breast and genital organ cancers. The recent increase of lung cancer incidence in females and the stabilisation of this site in males indicates the possibility of the major changes of cancer mortality in future. Spontaneous development of cancer incidence and its consequences for mortality emphasises the need for changes in cancer policy in this country, at least the establishment of adequate relations between prevention and treatment respecting the actual priorities and possibilities.
Epidemiological view of the malignant tumours incidence in Czecho-Slovakia in the end of 80th's
