Lung Cancer in Spain. Current Epidemiology, Survival, and Treatment

In 2005, 19 115 people died of lung cancer in Spain. In spite of the increase in absolute mortality rates since 1950, the adjusted rate for men has declined. The incidence among women is lower in Spain than in other countries but it has increased (with a ratio of 1 woman for every 8.5 men). More than 50% of the patients are over 70 years of age. While the proportion of adenocarcinomas relative to other histological types has increased worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma still predominates in Spain (ranging from 24%- 50.5%). The number of patients treated by surgical resection has not increased (14.8% in Spain in 2003). Operative mortality is 6.8%. Between 25% and 50% of patients receive only palliative medication. Absolute overall survival in patients with lung cancer is under 10% in many countries. The 5-year survival rate among patients treated surgically has increased slightly, with stage IA rates ranging from 58.3% to 68.5% and stage IIIA from 28.3% to 35.8%..

ResumenEn 2005 fallecieron 19.115 personas por cáncer de pulmón en España. Pese al aumento de las cifras absolutas de mortalidad desde 1950, las tasas ajustadas en varones han disminuido. La incidencia en mujeres, inferior a la de otros países, ha aumentado (1 por cada 8,5 varones). Más del 50% de los pacientes tienen más de 70 años. La proporción de adenocarcinomas ha aumentado en el mundo, aunque en España la estirpe epidermoide es predominante (24-50,5%). Las resecciones quirúrgicas (un 14,8% en España, en 2003) no han aumentado. La mortalidad operatoria es del 6,8%. Un 25-50% de los pacientes recibe sólo medicación paliativa. La supervivencia absoluta global del cáncer de pulmón es menor del 10% en muchos países. Entre pacientes resecados, la supervivencia a los 5 años (estadio IA: 58,3-68,5%; estadio IIIA: 28,3-35,8%) ha aumentado ligeramente.