Cancer Survival for Selected Cancers in Türkiye (2008–2017): A Population-Based Study

Abstract

This study estimates population-based cancer survival for selected cancers in Türkiye over a 10-year period and investigates differences across provinces. We utilised data for patients diagnosed with five most common cancers (lung, breast, colorectum, prostate and thyroid) from eight population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in Türkiye (Antalya, Bursa, Edirne, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Izmir, Samsun and Trabzon) in 2008–2012 and 2013–2017. We estimated 5-year age-standardised relative survival (ASRS) by age, sex and extent of disease. Five-year ASRS for the leading cancers in Türkiye increased by 1.4 to 4.6 percentage points between subsequent 5-year periods, in particular for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. Thyroid cancer consistently showed the highest 5-year ASRS, exceeding 89%, while lung cancer had the lowest 5-year ASRS, with Edirne reporting the lowest survival at approximately 10% in both periods. Improvement in 5-year ASRS was greatest in the older age group (≥ 65 years) except for lung cancer (0.6 percentage point increase in ≥ 65 years vs. 3.2 percentage points for < 65 years). Antalya and Trabzon showed the greatest 5-year ASRS and the largest survival gains over time across most cancers, while survival improvements in Erzurum were limited. In 2013–2017, 5-year ASRS for localised cancers were > 95% for breast cancer in 7 out of 8 PBCRs, and > 75% for colorectal cancer in all PBCRs. While survival for the most common cancers in Türkiye has improved, likely due to advances in the availability of and access to cancer treatment, further efforts are needed to address regional disparities and inform policy decisions across the provinces in Türkiye.