Breast cancer survival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1994-1996.

The national cancer registry in Saudi Arabia has functioned since 1994, collecting population-based incidence data on malignant and in situ tumours. Cancer registration is carried out by both passive and active methods. The registry contributed data on survival from cancer of the breast registered in 1994-1996 from Riyadh province. Follow-up was carried out predominantly by active methods, and the median follow-up was 57 months. The proportion of cases with a histological confirmation of breast cancer diagnosis was almost 100%; there were no cases registered based on death certificate only (DCO); 93% of total cases registered were included in the survival analysis. Complete follow-up at five years was 80%. Relative survival rates at one, three and five years were 96%, 83% and 65%, respectively. Five-year age-standardized relative survival was 65%. Five-year relative survival by age group did not show any pattern and was fluctuating. Five-year absolute survival by extent of disease was localized (70%), regional (56%), distant metastasis (57%) and unknown (62%).