Improvement of cancer care and prolonged survival of cancer patients

Considering the high incidence of cancer, outcomes of cancer care are of key importance. Over the last 10–15 years, the Czech cancer care has made a significant progress in terms of gradually increasing survival of cancer patients and decreasing mortality rates. In most cancer types, the Czech Republic has achieved markedly better outcomes than other Eastern bloc countries, getting closer to the European average, as confirmed by the EUROCARE-5 study1 and the CONCORD-2 study2, as well as by the annual comparison of healthcare systems in OECD and EU countries3. In some cases, such as colorectal cancer, the Czech Republic has seen by far the biggest drop in mortality in a decade when compared to other European countries. 

In spite of these positive findings, several challenges for the Czech cancer care have been identified: promotion of prevention and healthy lifestyle (preventive examinations, smoking cessation, reduction of obesity and other risk factors), availability of new drug treatments, or strengthening the feedback mechanisms to promote best practices in cancer diagnosis and treatment among providers.

Comparison of mortality and 5-year relative survival in CRC patients in EU countries in the years 2003 and 2013. Source: OECD/EU. Health at a Glance: Europe 2016 – State of Health in the EU Cycle

Comparison of mortality and 5-year relative survival in CRC patients in EU countries in the years 2003 and 2013. Source: OECD/EU. Health at a Glance: Europe 2016 – State of Health in the EU Cycle

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  • Creation date: 27. 10. 2017
  • Last edit date: 27. 10. 2017
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    References

    1. De Angelis R et al. Cancer survival in Europe 1999–2007 by country and age: results of EUROCARE-5 – a population-based study. Lancet Oncol 2014; 15(1): 23-34.
    2. Allemani C et al. Global surveillance of cancer survival 1995-2009: analysis of individual data for 25 676 887 patients from 279 population-based registries in 67 countries (CONCORD-2). Lancet 2015; 385(9972): 14-20.
    3. OECD/EU. Health at a Glance: Europe 2016 – State of Health in the EU Cycle. OECD Publishing, Paris 2016. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264265592-en.

    Modified by ESMO poster "Czech Cancer Care in Numbers presentation of the Czech Society for Oncology"
    ...by the Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University
    ...on behalf of the Board of the Czech Society for Oncology