[Incidence and mortality of central nervous system tumors in France: trends over the period 1978-2000 and influence of registration practices on results]. / Incidence et mortalité des tumeurs du système nerveux central en France: évolution de 1978 à 2000 et influence des pratiques d'enregistrement sur les résultats.

BACKGROUND: In France, cancer incidence figures are produced by cancer registries covering only 13.5% to 16% of the whole population of the country. Thus, to produce national figures, estimates have to be computed. Registration disparities between registries concerning tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS) could have biased these estimates. METHODS: National estimates are based on modelling of the incidence/mortality ratio. The most recent estimations for year 2000 were calculated by the French Cancer Registry Network (FRANCIM) and the department of biostatistics of Lyon University Hospital. Since benign tumors are not recorded in some cancer registries, a new estimate of the incidence of CNS tumors was produced by estimating the number of benign tumors in these registries. RESULTS: In 2000 in France, the number of estimated cases of CNS tumors was 2697 in men and 2602 in women, with incidence rates (World standard) of 7.4 and 6.4 per 100,000 respectively. The incidence increased between 1978 and 2000, on an average by 2.25% per year in men and 3.01% per year in women. However, these estimates do not provide a correct picture of CNS incidence. First of all, pathological diagnoses are not performed in 3.5%-27.5% of the patients with CNS tumors registered in French registries. Second, figures for benign tumors (mainly meningiomas) were provided by only two of nine cancer registries. If benign tumors had been registered by all cancer registries, computed incidence would have increased by 12% for men and 26% for women. CONCLUSION: Incidence of CNS tumors is increasing in France, as in many other countries. To improve comparability with other countries, French cancer registries should also collect data on benign tumors. The discrepancies observed between registries in the proportion of patients without information on histology show differences in diagnostic practices and should be the starting point for a survey on this topic.

[Ovarian cancer: incidence and mortality in France]. / Les cancers de l'ovaire: incidence et mortalité en France.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the ovarian cancer incidence and mortality trends in France from 1980 to 2000. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incidence data were obtained from 9 French departments covered by cancer registries which systematically record all cancers, of which those of the ovary. Mortality data has been provided by INSERM bureau in charge of the analysis of death certificates. RESULTS: With 4500 incident cases and 3500 deaths for the year 2000 in France, ovarian cancer still shows a poor prognosis. Age adjusted incidence and mortality rates are almost stable over the study period at an annual rate of 9 by 100000 for incidence and 5.5 by 100000 for mortality. However the risk of developing this cancer and the risk of dying from it, steadily decreased for the cohort born in 1930 to 1950, and the beginning of this reduction corresponds exactly to the beginning of oral contraception. We present comparisons between departments and analyze the border-line tumors in parallel with invasive cancers. CONCLUSION: The cancer of the ovary represents only a small part of female cancers (3.8%) in France and its incidence is stable over time, but its prognosis is very bad.

Medical and non-medical determinants of prostate cancer management: a population-based study.

Non-medical factors influencing treatment choices in prostate cancer are not well understood. We carried out a population-based study to obtain information on the management of prostate cancer patients. Our study population consisted of 1000 men diagnosed during 1995 from five French cancer registries. We looked at the main treatments performed in the year following diagnosis. Multivariate analysis was used to describe the determinants of the various treatment choices, simultaneously taking into account medical and non-medical factors. The probability of treatment by radical prostatectomy (RP) was 3 times higher in the Tarn area, whereas in the Calvados area the probability of treatment by radiotherapy was almost 6 times higher. The private sector favoured radical prostatectomy and hormonal therapy. In France, as in other developed countries, the initial treatment of prostate cancer varies greatly according to non-medical factors. This type of investigation, if carried out regularly, would make it possible to evaluate changes in practice patterns.

Cancer incidence and mortality in France over the period 1978-2000.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring cancer incidence and mortality time trends is essential for cancer research and health-care planning. French cancer registries do not cover the entire population and do not provide a representative sample of the national population. Our study aimed at estimating national cancer incidence and mortality trends over the longest period available. METHODS: Incidence and mortality data were collected over the period 1978-1997. Twenty-seven cancer sites were selected and age, sex and site specific incidence and mortality rates were estimated for each year from 1978 up to 2000. Observed incidence and mortality data in the population covered by cancer registries were modelled using age-cohort methods. An estimation of the incidence/mortality ratio was obtained from these models and applied to the mortality rates predicted from an age-cohort model for the entire French population. The person-years of observation were calculated cohort-wise from census data provided by the national institute of statistics RESULTS: Cancer incidence increased by 63% throughout the study period, from 170,000 new cases in 1980 to 278,000 in 2000. This evolution was due to demographic changes but also to an increase in the risk of cancer which was estimated to more than 35% during the same period. In men, this change is largely explain by the increase of prostate cancer incidence. Among women, the increase was dominated by the continuing increase in breast cancer incidence. Large increases were also seen for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, and thyroid cancer in both genders and for lung cancer in women. Cancer mortality increased by 20% from 125,000 deaths in 1980 to 150,000 in 2000. This increase is less than that predicted from changes in demographic factors and corresponds in fact to a decrease in the risk of death estimated to about 8%, slightly greater for women than for men. This decrease is associated with a decreasing incidence for stomach cancers for both sexes, alcohol-related cancer for men and cervical cancer for women. Colo-rectal cancer decreasing mortality contributes to this improvement despite an incidence increase. CONCLUSION: Between 1980 and 2000, the study showed a large change in the cancer burden both quantitatively and qualitatively. Decrease in exposure, earlier diagnosis and therapeutic improvement explained part of this change, but overall the distribution of cancer cases shifted toward a distribution including less aggressive cancers. A striking divergence between incidence and mortality trends is observed for a great number of cancers. Prostate cancer shares with breast cancer the same pattern of a severe increasing incidence and a stable mortality. This points to important changes in medical practice and needs further analysis. The trend of lung cancer mortality among women should be emphasised since the situation will inevitably worsen in the coming years. It is already the third cause of cancer death among women.

Quality of life in long-term survivors of testicular cancer: a population-based case-control study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate quality of life and social problems in long-term survivors of testicular cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 1998, 71 testicular cancer survivors (cases) identified from the Calvados General Tumor Registry were enrolled onto a case-control study. One hundred nineteen healthy control subjects (controls), matched by age and location of residence, were selected at random from electoral rolls. Three self-administered questionnaires were used: two health-related quality-of-life questionnaires (Short Form-36 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 core questionnaires) and one life situation questionnaire. Specific questions concerning sexuality were also added. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 11 years, health-related quality-of-life scores did not differ significantly between cases and controls, nor did general symptom scores. Psychosocial problems were reported equally by cases and controls. Cases reported more modification of sexual life (P =.04) with decreased sexual enjoyment (P <.01), decreased desire (P =.02), and infertility (P <.01). Cases did not report more divorce than controls; they reported fewer changes in relationships with friends (P =.03). Although a similar proportion of cases and controls were at work, cases expressed less ambitious professional plans (P =.002). Cases had greater difficulty in borrowing from banks (P <.001). CONCLUSION: French long-term survivors of testicular cancer do not express more impairment of health-related quality of life or familial or professional life in comparison with healthy men. They did have more sexual life problems and found difficulty in borrowing from banks. This information should be used by practitioners to help their patients cope with their disease and return to normal life.

[Cancer of the prostate in France: results of the survey CCAFU-FRANCIM]. / Le cancer de la prostate en France: résultats de l'enquête CCAFU-FRANCIM.

OBJECTIVE: The management, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PC) in the general population are poorly defined in France. The objective of this survey was to analyse the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of prostate cancer in 1995, on the basis of a population derived from 4 French cancer registries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A sample of 803 PCs diagnosed in 1995 were selected at random from the cases listed in the 4 registries (Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Isère and Tarn). Analysis by questionnaire concerned the modalities of diagnosis, clinical tumour stage and the treatment performed. Clinical stage (TNM 1992) was submitted to centralized coding. Logistic regression was used to quantify the various practices, taking into account the patient's age, PSA level and clinical stage. The probability of receiving each treatment modality was studied by using the same clinical determinants. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 71.6 years (range: 46-94). The clinical stage was T1 or T2 in 60% of cases, T3 or T4 in 14% of cases and N+ or M+ in 17% of cases. PSA (median: 18.2 ng/ml) was assayed in 92.4% of cases. The diagnosis was established by biopsy in 63% of cases and by endoscopic resection (TURP) in 32% (5% unknown). The main treatments were: radical prostatectomy (RP): 21.9%, radiotherapy: 19.4%, endocrine therapy: 33%, isolated TURP: 16.3%, conservative management: 6% and unspecified treatment: 5.6% of cases. 31% of cases received combinations of various treatment modalities. RP was performed more frequently in patients over the age of 60 years, for T2 tumours (OR: 3.3) and for 4 < PSA < 20 ng/ml. Radiotherapy tended to be reserved for older patients with T3-T4 tumours and 20 < PSA < 50 ng/ml. The frequency of endocrine therapy increased with age and PSA (> 50 ng/ml). The frequency of TURP and surveillance also increased with age, decreased with high PSA and essentially concerned T1 tumours. CONCLUSION: PC was diagnosed relatively early in France in 1995 with clinically localized tumours in 60% of cases. In this survey, 94% of patients received treatment during the year following diagnosis, with 40% of curative treatments and 31% of combined treatments.

[Variations of the practice of radical prostatectomy in France]. / Variations dans la pratique de la prostatectomie radicale en France.

OBJECTIVE: A description of radical prostatectomy (PR) practice in the general population in France has never been reported. The objective of this study was to analyse RP practice in France, and its determinants and geographical variations based on the CCAFU-Francim survey on prostate cancer (PC) diagnosed in 1995. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 175 PR were performed on the sample of 798 patients selected at random from the cases of PC identified in 1995 by four cancer registries (Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Isère and Tarn). Analysis was based on tumour characteristics, diagnostic methods and histopathological results. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression taking into account age, PSA and clinical stage studied variations between departments and types of urology practice (private or public). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of the diagnosis was 65.3 years (46-76). The median PSA was 18.3 ng/ml (1-184). The diagnosis was made by biopsies (91%) which were systematized in 74% of cases or by transurethral resection (7%). The clinical stage was T1 (22.3%), T2 (64%), T3 (8.6%), N+ (0.611) and unknown (4.5%). The pathological stage was pT2N0 (46.3%), pT3N0 (40%), pT4N0 (1.7%), pTxN0 (8.6%) and unknown (3.4%). Adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy: 13.7%, endocrine therapy: 13.7% or both: 31%) was performed in 54 patients (31%). Multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted probability to be treated by RP was 3 times higher in one department compared to others and 2.6 times higher in the private sector. CONCLUSION: This study of RP practice in the general population shows a concordance with the 1995 recommendations, but it also shows practice variations according to the region and the type of practice, reflecting different schools of thought and medical education within the same country.

A population-based study on management of prostate cancer in four regions of France.

In France, as in other European countries, management of prostate cancer in the population is rather variable. The objective was to analyse diagnosis and treatment modalities of prostate cancer in patients from French cancer registries.A sample of 803 patients with prostate cancer diagnosed in 1995 was drawn at random from cases recorded in four cancer registries in the geographical regions of Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Isère and Tarn. Diagnosis, clinical staging and treatment were analysed by questionnaire. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression was used to describe medical determinants (age, PSA, clinical staging) of the various treatment choices.The mean age of the patients was 71.6 y (range 46-94 y). Clinical staging showed 60% T(1-2) tumours, 15% T(3-4) and 17% N+or metastases. PSA rate (median 18.2 ng/ml) was assessed in 92.4% of patients. Prostate cancer was diagnosed by prostate biopsy in 63% and by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in 32% of patients. The main treatments were radical prostatectomy 22%, radiotherapy 19.4%, hormonal therapy 33%, TURP alone 17.7% and expectant management 6%. The method of treatment was unknown in 5.7% of cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy or hormonal therapy had been used in 31% of cases. Logistic regression analysis showed that radical prostatectomy was most often performed in patients aged <60 y, three times more frequently for T(2) tumour and for PSA between 4 and 20 ng/ml. Radiotherapy was the most frequently applied treatment for patients aged between 65 and 75 y, especially in T(3) tumours.Approximately 75% of the patients in the study underwent a specific treatment for prostate cancer with a curative intention in 40%. This study provides a baseline to clinicians and public health authorities on the management of prostate cancer in France with recent data. This survey will be useful to compare future descriptive analysis and to provide data regarding changing clinical practice.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2001) 4, 154-160.

A population-based study on radical prostatectomy in France.

There has as yet been no descriptive study of the practice of radical prostatectomy in the general population in France. The objective of this work was to investigate the use of radical prostatectomy (RP) in France and its determinants and geographic variations. A total of 175 radical prostatectomies was identified in a random sample of 798 cases of prostate cancer recorded in 1995 by four cancer registries, in the departments of Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Isère and Tarn. Tumour characteristics, diagnostic procedures and histopathological results were analysed. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression was used to take into account age, prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and clinical stage in order to study variations between geographical departments and sectors of activity (private or public). The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 65.3 y (range 46-76). Median PSA level was 18.2 ng/ml (range 1-184). Diagnosis was made by randomised biopsies in 73.8% of cases or by transurethral resection (6.9%). Clinical stage was classified T(1) (22.3%), T(2) (64%), T(3) (8.6%), N(+) (0.6%) and unknown (4.5%). The histopathological result was pT(2)N0 in 46.3% of cases, pT(3)N0 in 40%, pT(4)N0 in 1.7%, pT(x)N(+) in 8.6% and unknown in 3.4%. Adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy 13.7%, hormonal treatment 13.7% or both 3%) was administered in 54 patients (31%). Logistic regression showed that the probability of undergoing RP was three times higher in one department than in the other departments, and was 2.6 times as high in the private sector. This study on the practice of RP is the first performed in the general population in France. It shows that practice differs according to geographical region and sector of activity, indicating that schools of thought and medical culture vary within the same country.Prostate Cnacer and Prostatic diseases (2001) 4, 118-123

Tamoxifen adjuvant treatment duration in early breast cancer: initial results of a randomized study comparing short-term treatment with long-term treatment. Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer Breast Group.

PURPOSE: In 1986, The Fédération Nationale desCentres de Lutte Contre le Cancer Breast Group initiated a multicenter randomized trial to assess the usefulness of long-term adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. Short-term adjuvant tamoxifen treatment was to be compared with life long adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were disease-free after 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen treatment were eligible for the trial. From September 1986 to May 1995, 3,793 patients were randomized from France, Belgium, and Argentina. A total of 1,882 patients stopped tamoxifen (short-term group), and 1,911 patients were to continue tamoxifen for life (long-term group) at the same dose as previously prescribed. The protocol was modified in February 1997, limiting tamoxifen treatment to 10 years after randomization, thus giving a comparison between a 2- to 3-year treatment and a 12- to 13-year treatment. To date, the median duration of tamoxifen treatment is 30 months in the short-term group, and 70 months in the long-term group. RESULTS: Overall, longer tamoxifen treatment induced a 23% reduction in relapse rates, leading to a 7-year disease-free survival rate of 78%, compared with 72% in the shorter-treatment group. In contrast, overall survival did not differ between the two groups, with a 79% overall survival rate in both groups. This improvement in disease-free survival could be observed in node-positive patients (P: =.001); however, it was not found in node-negative patients. Prolonged tamoxifen treatment corresponded to a significant increase in disease-free survival in estrogen receptor-positive patients (P: =.03) as well as in estrogen receptor-negative patients (P: =.05). Furthermore, longer treatment reduced contralateral breast cancers and did not increase the number of endometrial cancers. CONCLUSION: Although no survival advantage was noted, patients did benefit from longer tamoxifen treatment over 3 years and had significantly better disease-free survival compared with patients who stopped hormonal treatment. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess these results. Most patients in the long-term group are still receiving treatment. Comparison of results as time passes will enable conclusions to be made on the value of long-term treatment over 5 years compared with 2 to 3 years.

High-dose platinum versus standard dose in advanced ovarian carcinoma: a randomized trial from the Gynecologic Cooperative Group of the French Comprehensive Cancer Centers (FNCLCC).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of platinum dose intensity on pathological response rate and overall survival in patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Between February 1992 and December 1996, 195 previously untreated patients with FIGO stage IIb-c, IIIb-c, or IV with macroscopic residual disease after suboptimal debulking surgery were randomized to receive CCC (100 mg/m(2) of cisplatin, 300 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide, 300 mg/m(2) of carboplatin, n = 96) or CC (100 mg/m(2) of cisplatin, 600 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide, n = 99) for six courses at 28-day intervals. A second-look laparotomy was planned at the end of chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the CCC arm, the platinum compound received dose intensity and relative total dose were 85 and 76%; in the CC arm, they were 94 and 85%. Grade 3-4 toxicity was more frequent in the CCC arm than in the CC arm for leukopenia (56% vs 26%, P < 0.001), febrile neutropenia (18% vs 4%, P = 0.002), anemia (31% vs 5%, P < 0.001), thrombopenia (55% vs 4%, P < 0.001), and ototoxicity (8% vs 0%, P < 0.001). The pathologic complete response rate was 22 and 14% in the CCC and CC arms, respectively (P = 0.19). With a median follow-up of 53 months, the median time to failure and the 3-year treatment failure-free survival rate were 17.4 months and 22% vs 13 months and 11% in the two arms, respectively (P = 0.01). The median survival time and the 3-year overall survival rate were, respectively, 30 months and 42% vs 25 months and 33% (P < 0.20). CONCLUSION: The platinum dose intensification (1.6-fold increase) obtained with the CCC association improves the treatment failure-free survival without significant impact on overall survival when compared with the CC regimen in suboptimal debulked ovarian adenocarcinoma. However, because of its high rate of hematologic toxicity and ototoxicity, this association cannot be recommended for routine practice.

[Radiotherapy of stage T1-T2 M0 prostatic adenocarcinoma. Analysis of the carcinologic results of a multicenter study of 610 patients. Groupe Radiothérapie de la Commission de Coopération Médicale Intercentres (CCMI)]. / Radiothérapie de l'adénocarcinome prostatique de stade T1-T2 M0. Analyse des résultats carcinologiques d'une étude multicentrique de 610 patients. Groupe Radiothérapie de la Commission de Coopération Médicale Intercentres (CCMI).

PURPOSE: Retrospective analysis of the results of radiotherapy in localized prostatic adenocarcinoma. Complications were excluded. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six-hundred-and-ten T1-T2 adenocarcinomas of the prostate were treated with continuous courses of external beam radiation therapy in 19 participating Institutes between January 1983 and January 1988. The mean follow-up was 10.4 years; the mean age of patients at the beginning of radiotherapy was 68.5 years. RESULTS: A 10-year, local control had been achieved in 86% of T1-T2 (81.4% for T2). The 5- and 10-year metastatic relapse rates were 25.3% and 30% (29% and 38.1% for T2), respectively. At 10 years, 62.4% of T1-T2 were recurrence-free; overall survival rate was 45.8% and cause-specific survival rate was 70.5%; 29.9% of T1-T2 patients were alive and disease-free. T category (TNM), pathologic grade, pelvic lymph node status, local tumor control, and obstructive ureteral symptoms were correlated with survival. The influence of pelvic nodes radiation, dose, overall treatment time, previous endocrine treatment, and transuretral resection was not significant for disease-free survival (alive and disease-free) and other endpoints. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the French series (1975-1982 and 1983-1988). The results of the literature are comparable to ours. As far as prognostic factors are concerned, this report provides evidence that the explainable variables which influence survival depend on the tumor and patient status.

[Prostate cancer screening (II): is prostate cancer a public health problem? Update of incidence and mortality figures in France from 1982 to 1990]. / Dépistage du cancer de la prostate (II): Le cancer de la prostate est-il un problème de santé publique? Actualisation des chiffres d'incidence et de mortalité en France de 1982 à 1990.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological situation of prostatic cancer in France on the basis on a large population sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study uses incidence data derived from French cancer registers, and mortality data obtained from death certificates. Crude rates and rates standardized for the world population are calculated. The variation of these rates is analysed by a log-linear model (adjusted for age, department and period). RESULTS: The incidence of prostatic cancer in France in 1990 was 200 to 300/100,000 between the ages of 60 and 70 years and more than 600/100,000 after the age of 70 years. 73% of cases were diagnosed after the age of 70 years. The incidence increased annually by 8.76% between 1982 and 1990. An estimated 22,600 cases were diagnosed in France in 1990. The increased incidence of localized or local stages is due to the use of diagnostic tests (PSA and ultrasound-guided biopsies), as this increase accelerated after 1987. The crude mortality rate was 33.4/100,000 (384/100,000 between the ages of 75 and 85 years). It increased by 2.56% per annum from 1982 to 1990, but essentially for men over the age of 75 years. CONCLUSION: These findings tend to make prostatic cancer a public health priority, but this affirmation must be moderated by the fact that this disease has a low impact on loss of life expectancy.

[Flow cytometry in ORL cancers]. / Cytométrie en flux dans les cancers ORL.

The possibility to perform flow cytometry was examined in a series of 167 patients with primary untreated head and neck carcinoma referred to our Institution from February 1989 to January 1992. In all cases, flow cytometry was carried out on frozen tumour samples. The Cox model was used including age, tumour size, nodal status on clinical assessment, topography, treatment, malignancy grade, S phase fraction and ploidy as independent variables and overall survival as dependent variable. In this study, ploidy could be assessed in only 73% of cases and S phase fraction and G2M in 65% of the population studied. No correlation could be evidenced between ploidy or SPF with other clinical, pathologic characteristics or clinical outcome. We conclude that flow cytometry should remain a research tool until the method has proved to be relevant in clinical routine, and until the yield of the technique can be improved.

[Tamoxifen adjuvant delays early breast cancer. Results of a cooperative randomized trial]. / Tamoxifène adjuvant retardé dans le cancer du sein curable. Résultats d'un essai coopératif randomisé.

Adjuvant tamoxifen (TAM) has been proved to reduce recurrence and mortality in early breast cancer, nevertheless many patients did not receive TAM as adjuvant therapy after local treatment. In order to study the efficacy of delayed TAM therapy in patients who were not given immediate adjuvant hormonal treatment, a multicenter randomized trial has been conducted by the French National Cancer Centers (FNCLCC). According to eligibility criterias all women with breast cancer who received curative local treatment at least 2 years before (surgery +/- radiotherapy) with or without adjuvant chemotherapy but no hormonal treatment could have been included. Between September 1986 and October 1989, 494 women were randomized to receive either TAM 30 mg/day for 5 years or no treatment. Patients' characteristics such as age, tumoral stage, number of positive nodes, receptors status and time from local treatment were equally distributed in the 2 groups. An improvement in the disease free survival in the TAM treated patients can be observed with a significative difference (p = 0.05), nevertheless the overall survival is not improved in the TAM group. In the same way, in nodes positive patients although no significative improvement in the overall survival can be observed, a significative improvement in the disease free survival (p = 0.05) can be noted. In estradiol receptors positive patients tamoxifen gives a significative reduction in the odds of death (p = 0.04) and recurrence (p = 0.03). The disease free improvement seems to be limited to 50 and more years old patients. The first results of this trial lead to prescribe tamoxifen to all postmenopausal women previously treated for an early breast cancer without adjuvant tamoxifen treatment.

Cancer incidence and mortality in France in 1975-95.

The aims of the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) are to improve the quality, comparability and availability of cancer registry data in Europe. This paper on cancer incidence and mortality in France presents the most recent available data, with short-term projections to 1995, and a commentary based, where possible, on epidemiological research carried out in France. Cancer incidence in men in France increased throughout the study period 1975 to 1995, from 92,000 new cases in 1975 to about 135,000 in 1995. This increase was partly due to the ageing of the French population, but incidence rates have also increased, particularly from 1975 to 1985. The trend appears to be levelling off in the 1990s, with an incidence rate in 1995 of about 482 per 100,000 (this and subsequent rates quoted are standardized to the European Standard Population). Among women, the all-cancer incidence rates also increased during the 1970s and 1980s. Although the rate of increase was less pronounced than in men, the trend is continuing in the 1990s. The estimated age standardized rate in 1995 was 309 per 100,000, representing 104,000 new cases. The main components of these changes in the last decade were, for men, increases in large bowel and prostate cancer, which have been partly compensated for by decreases in oral cavity, larynx and stomach cancer. For women the trend was dominated by the continuing increase in breast cancer with increases also in large bowel and lung cancers. Of the numerically important cancers in women, only stomach cancer has shown a clear decline. The situation in 1995 was that breast cancer remained the predominant cancer affecting women in France, accounting for almost one third of all new cases of cancer diagnosed and one fifth of cancer deaths. The next most frequent cancers in women were those of the large bowel. Regrettably, incidence rates of both breast and bowel cancer are increasing in women. For men in France the most frequent cancers in 1995 were those of the prostate, large bowel and lung, all of which increased in incidence since 1975. Although it is estimated that there will be more newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer than lung cancer in 1995, the latter will cause many more deaths, particularly of young men.

Late psychosocial sequelae in Hodgkin's disease survivors: a French population-based case-control study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate late psychosocial sequelae in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in the population of Calvados, France. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients issued from the Calvados General Tumor Registry, treated from 1978 to 1990, free of relapse and second malignancy since January 1991, were enrolled onto cross-sectional case-control study. One hundred eighty-six healthy controls, matched for sex, age, and residency, were selected at random from electoral rolls. Two self-administered questionnaires were mailed in the spring of 1995. RESULTS: Compared with controls, HD patients reported (1) more physical (P < .001), role (P < .001), and cognitive (P = .015) functioning impairments, as well as dyspnea (P < .001) and chronic fatigue (P = .025), while no statistical difference was found in global health status; (2) to be more often childless (P = .04), fewer divorces or separations (P = .013), fewer changes in relationships with friends (P = .012), similar proportions at work but less ambitious professional plans (P < .001), and greater difficulties in borrowing from banks (P < .001); (3) a slight increase in the number of visits to a general practitioner (P = .05) and greater consumption of medical resources (mainly thyroid extracts, P = .05). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that French long-term HD survivors have good global health status and good psychologic, familial, and professional status, although difficulties in borrowing from banks remain a major limitation in daily life. Although physical, role, and cognitive functioning impairments persist that might limit their activities, HD survivors seem to have learned to cope with problems related to their disease and its treatment.