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Mortality From Prostate Cancer After Non-Curative Treatment--Past, Present,Future

In Sweden, prostate cancer patients are treated traditionally without curative intent, through hormone treatment. Consequently, mortality from prostate cancer mirrors the ultimate outcome of this non-curative approach. The objective of this study by Swedish investigators was to correlate the increase in prostate cancer mortality over the 30-year period from 1966 to 1995 with a change in the male age profile. Utilizing the Swedish cause of death register (in use since 1750), researchers noted that of the 42,303 men who died in 1966, 2.7% or 1,128 died from prostate cancer. In 1995, 47,428 died, with 4.8% or 2,280 men expiring from prostate cancer. According to the researchers, there was a 102% increase in prostate cancer mortality over the 30-year period as contrasted with a 12% increase in total mortality. They explain that the main reason for the increase is a rise in the average life span from 71.7 years to 75.8 years over the 30 years. Although death rates from prostate cancer were fairly stable ov er the 30-year period, they increased by age group: from 0.014% in men 55 - 59 years; to 0.35% in men aged 75 - 79; to 0.96 in men over 90 years. By projecting to the year 2025, prostate cancer deaths would increase 42% to 3,248 men. Since more men are living longer, an increase in prostate cancer mortality is to be expected, according to the investigators.

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