Incidence Of Cancer In Sweden Research Articles

Dose response analysis of protracted absorbed organ dose and site-specific cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident

Dose response analysis of protracted absorbed organ dose and site-specific cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident

Dose-response analysis of protracted absorbed organ dose and site-specific cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.

Adult males in Sweden exhibit an increased risk of cancer associated with an increased absorbed dose to the colon from the Chernobyl accident. A closed cohort, with information on hunter status, included all individuals living in northern Sweden in 1986. Complete annual information on exposure to 137Cs at the dwelling coordinate was available for a total of 2,104,101 individuals. A nested case-control method with four controls matched for year of cancer diagnosis and year of birth, was used. Individual absorbed organ doses were calculated between 1986 and 2020 including external and internal exposure. Hazard ratios (HR) per mGy with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression adjusted for rural/nonrural habitat, education level and pre-Chernobyl cancer incidence 1980 to 1985. A total of 161,325 cancer cases in males and 144,439 in females were included. The adjusted HR per mGy for all cancer sites combined was 1.027 (95% CI = 1.022, 1.031) in males and 1.011 (95% CI = 1.006, 1.017) in females. In a post hoc analysis accounting for both remaining confounding from hunter lifestyle and the pre-Chernobyl cancer incidence by county, the adjusted HR per mGy for all cancer sites combined was 1.014 (95% CI = 1.009, 1.019) in males and 1.000 (95% CI = 0.994, 1.006) in females. The post hoc analysis suggested an increased risk of cancer in the colon, pancreas, and stomach, respectively, in males, and lymphoma in females. Increased cancer risk estimates were found for some specific cancer sites but remaining uncontrolled confounding due to hunter lifestyle could not be ruled out.

Long-term follow-up of cervical cancer incidence after normal cytological findings.

An increase in cervical cancer incidence in Sweden from 2014 to 2015 has been attributed to an increase in false-negative cytological findings before cancer diagnoses. Years later, we performed a long-term follow-up to investigate whether the problem persisted. At each calendar year from 2016 to 2020, we identified women with prior normal cervical screening results through linkage to the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry. We reported their incidence rates (IRs) of invasive cervical cancer in consecutive years and compared the IRs over time. For the years 2016 to 2020, there was no overall change in cervical cancer incidence after two normal cytology in the last two screening intervals. However, there was a further 62% increase among women 50 to 60 years of age with normal cytology in the past two screening intervals. The incidence rate of cervical cancer was high among nonscreened women and low among HPV-screened women with negative results, with no trends over time. Our results imply that the previously reported decrease in sensitivity of cervical cytology is persisting. Although primary cytology screening is no longer used, cytology is used in triaging among HPV-positive women. Our findings suggest that improved triaging is needed, for example, improved quality assurance and/or use of alternative triage tests.

Age trends in biliary tract cancer incidence by anatomical subtype: A Swedish cohort study

AimStudies from Western countries suggest that early-onset biliary tract cancer, a rare malignancy originating from the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma) or gallbladder, is increasing. We performed a population-based cohort study to outline age trends in biliary tract cancer incidence in Sweden. MethodsAll patients with biliary tract cancer, excluding non-biliary chiefly hepatocellular histopathology, recorded in the Swedish Cancer Register in year 1993–2019 and at age 20–84 were included. Analyses were stratified by anatomical subtype; intrahepatic, gallbladder, perihilar, distal, and not specified. We analyzed absolute incidence rates by calendar period (1993–2001, 2002–2010, and 2011–2019) and annual percentage change (APC) including 95% confidence intervals (CI) across 1993–2019 for all ages and stratified into younger (20–54 years) and older (55–84 years) patients. ResultsAmong 14,083 patients with biliary tract cancer, 1377 (9.8%) were younger. Gallbladder cancer incidence decreased (APC -2.82, 95% CI: −3.18–-2.46), while intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma increased (APC 1.74, 95% CI: 1.30–2.18), and the latter surpassed gallbladder as the most common subtype during the study period. While both intrahepatic and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma increased in both age groups, the rise was most prominent in younger adults, APC 3.01, 95% CI: 1.84–4.20 and 3.93, 95% CI: 2.08–5.81, respectively. ConclusionIntrahepatic and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma are increasing in Sweden and more so younger adults. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying reasons behind the observed trends.

Cancer incidence in a male adult population in relation to estimated protracted colon dose – A nested case control study in Northern Sweden after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident

IntroductionUncertainty in the dose-response of low dose radiation raised concern of an increased cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident. Material and methodsA closed cohort was created of all males ≥18 years of age living in the Northern Sweden in 1986. In total 826,400 individuals were enrolled including 40,874 hunters. A nested case-control design was used with five controls randomly selected for each cancer case matched on year of diagnosis and year of birth. Individual absorbed colon dose was calculated 1986 to 2015. Allowing for a 5-year latency period Hazard Ratios (HR) per mGy with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated in a conditional logistic regression adjusted by rural/non-rural living, length of education and pre-Chernobyl cancer incidence 1980 to 1985. A total of 127,109 cancer cases occurred from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2015. Cancer was classified in: 1) Organ-specific (stomach, colon, liver, lung, prostate, urinary bladder, thyroid and leukaemia), 2) Other and 3) Not previously associated to ionizing radiation. ResultsThe average colon dose in cases was 1.77 mGy compared to controls 1.73 mGy. Hunters average colon dose was 2.32 mGy. Organ-specific cancers showed the highest HR per mGy both in the full cohort, adj HR 1.019 (1.014–1.024) and the hunter subcohort, adj HR 1.014 (1.001–1.027) during follow-up 1991 to 2015. Other cancer and Not previously associated with ionizing radiation showed lower HR per mGy. Therefore, the adj HR per mGy for Total cancer, 1.013 (1.009–1.017) was explained by Organ-specific cancer. Increased adj HR per mGy was seen in stomach, colon and prostate cancer, respectively in the full cohort and lung cancer in hunters. ConclusionsSome cancer sites previously associated with ionizing radiation showed a positive adjusted HR per mGy both in the full cohort and in the hunter subcohort.

Increase of cervical cancer incidence in Sweden in relation to screening history: population cohort study

Background: Cervical cancer incidence in Sweden decreased from 24/100,000 in 1965 to 8/100,000 in 2011, but has from 2014 increased to 11/100,000. The increase appears to correlate to screening history. We perform a study of the cancer risk change in relation to screening history over two screening rounds to verify the correlation.Material and methods: We studied the cohorts of all 3,047,850 individual women living in Sweden in each year from 2002–2015. Registry linkages between the Total Population Register, the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry, the Swedish Cervical Cancer Audit database and the National Quality Register for Gynecological Cancer, defined the incidence rates of invasive cervical cancer comparing time periods 2002–2013 to 2014–2015, in women whose screening history in 2 screening intervals prior to each year were either (i) adequately screened with normal results (almost exclusively cytology, 52% of the population) or (ii) unscreened (13% of the population). We also investigated the incidence increase by time since a normal smear performed in 2002–2012.Results: Among women adequately screened with normal results there was a strong incidence increase in 2014–2015 compared to previous years (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.36–1.85), but no significant increase among unscreened women (IRR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.94–1.27). There was no increase in incidence 0–2.5 years after a normal smear over the study period (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.88–1.24), but a strong increase 3–4 years after a normal smear since year 2009 (IRR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.25–1.84).Conclusion: The results suggest that the overall increase is associated with an increased cancer risk in women adequately screened with normal cytological results. Possibly, precursor lesions missed in one screening round might result in detection of early stage invasive cancer in the subsequent screening.

Geographical variations in the incidence of oesophageal cancer in Sweden

Background: Geographical variations in the incidence and tumour stage distribution of oesophageal cancer in Sweden are not well characterised.Methods: Using data from the Swedish Cancer Registry over 45 years (1972–2016), we compared the age-standardised incidence rates of oesophageal cancer by histological type across all seven national areas (in five-year periods) and 21 counties (in 15-year periods) in Sweden, and assessed the geographical distribution of tumour stage at diagnosis since 2004.Results: The incidence rate of oesophageal adenocarcinoma increased in all national areas and counties and in both sexes over time, while the rate of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma decreased from the 1980s onwards. In the latest period (2012– 2016), the incidence rate of adenocarcinoma in men ranged from 3.5/100,000 person-years in West Sweden to 6.2/100,000 person-years in North Middle Sweden. At the county level, the rate of adenocarcinoma in men was lowest in Jämtland (2.7/100,000 person-years) and highest in Gotland (6.2/100 000 person-years) in 2002–2016. The incidence rates of both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in women were below 2/100,000 person-years in all national areas and counties in the latest calendar periods, i.e., 2012–2016 and 2002–2016, respectively. The proportion of patents with tumour stage IV ranged from 22% in Stockholm area to 31% in Middle Norrland, while at the healthcare region level it was lowest in Stockholm healthcare region (23%) and highest in North (30%) and Uppsala-Örebro (29%) healthcare regions.Conclusion: There are considerable geographical variations in the incidence and tumour stage distribution of oesophageal cancer in Sweden.

Total cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident – can better precision be achieved using individual exposure assessments over time?

Total cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident – can better precision be achieved using individual exposure assessments over time?

Increasing incidence of Merkel cell cancer in Sweden

Increasing incidence of Merkel cell cancer in Sweden

Increased cancer risks among arthroplasty patients: 30 year follow-up of the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register

Background An increasing number of young patients are undergoing knee arthroplasties. Thus, the long-term risks of having a knee prosthesis must be evaluated. This study focuses on the potential carcinogenic effects of the prosthesis; it is a long-term follow-up of all patients in Sweden between 1975 and 2006. Methods The incidence of cancer in a total population of operated individuals was compared to the overall national cancer incidence in Sweden by means of standardised incidence ratios. Analysis of cancer latency period was performed to identify potential aetiological factors. Results For male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), the overall cancer risks were elevated, ranging from 1.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.18) for men with OA to 1.26 (1.23–1.29) for men with RA. The greatest increases in risk were observed for the leukaemia subtypes, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and essential thrombocytosis (ET), ranging from 3.31 (1.24–8.83) for ET in men with OA to 7.38 (1.85–29.51) for ET in women with RA. Increases in risk were also observed for breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma. The latency analysis revealed elevated risks late in the study period for both solid and haematopoietic cancers. However, only increases in MDS and possibly prostate cancer and melanoma rates appeared to be connected to the operation. Conclusion This study showed that OA and RA arthroplasty patients have a significantly higher risk of cancer than the general population. Elevated risks of MDS and possibly prostate cancer and melanoma indicated a potential connection to exposure to metals in the implant. The observed excessive incidence of ET was likely associated with the inflammatory disease.

The incidence of tonsillar cancer in Sweden is increasing

Conclusions: The incidence of tonsillar cancer in Sweden is increasing, particularly among men. Risk factors other than smoking may have contributed to the observed secular trend in men. In women, however, smoking can be a part of the explanation. Further studies to look at changes in other environmental factors, such as human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, are clearly warranted. Objectives: Head and neck cancer is related to smoking habits and smoking has decreased substantially during the last 30 years in Sweden. However, there is suspicion that the incidence of tonsillar cancer has increased in the last 30 years as it has in the USA and Finland, in spite of reduced prevalence of known risk factors. The time trends of oral and oropharygeal cancer have been studied in Sweden, but not tonsillar cancer specifically. Subjects and methods: We used the Swedish Cancer Registry to assess the secular trend of incidence of tonsillar cancer in Sweden since 1960. For comparison we investigated the incidence of other oral cancers and lung cancer, which are also smoking-related. The prevalence of smoking was investigated for reference. Age-standardized incidence rates were calculated and linear regression was used to evaluate secular trends. Results: The incidence of tonsillar cancer increased by 2.6% per year in men and 1.1% in women. No similar increase was seen in the other oral cancers. For lung cancer there was a decrease in the incidence in men, but in women the incidence is still increasing.

Chapter 5.4: Major public health problems — cancer

N Cancer is the second most common cause of death for both genders after cardiovascular disease. N Cancer predominantly afflicts older people. Two of three cases occur after age 65. N The probability for a man to be diagnosed with cancer before age 75 is about 30% and for a woman almost 27%. N Close to 25% of all cancer is caused by tobacco smoking, the single known factor that causes most cancer cases. N The incidence of cancer in Sweden increased by 1.1% per year among men and by 0.5% per year among women (age-standardized figures) from 1994 to 2003. N Just over half of those diagnosed with cancer today are expected to live as long as their coevals. Early detection and improved treatment, contribute to increased survival. N Breast cancer is the most common cancer form among women, representing about 30% of all female cancer. During the past 10 years the incidence of breast cancer has increased by 1.5% annually. Mortality, however, is not increasing. N Prostate cancer represents about 35% of all cancers in men. The incidence has increased by an average of 4% annually for the past 10 years, chiefly due to early detection. However, the increased incidence is not accompanied by increased mortality. N During the past 10 years, the incidence of prostate cancer and skin cancer have increased among men, while the incidence of lung cancer has declined. Among women, breast, lung and skin cancer are increasing. Cancer prevalence varies between countries and continents

Bilateral Metachronous Ureteral and Renal Pelvic Carcinomas: Incidence, Clinical Presentation, Histopathology, Treatment and Outcome

Metachronous bilateral UUTTs are rare. The authors reported baseline and long-term followup data for all patients diagnosed in Western Sweden during a 28-year period. We performed a clinical and histopathological analysis of all patients in Western Sweden surgically treated for ureteral and renal pelvic tumors from 1971 to 1998. Of 768 patients a contralateral UUTT developed in 24 (3.1%) after a median of 46 months (range 2 to 232). The projected incidence after initial UUTT diagnosis was 2.7%, 5.8% and 6.5% at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Median age of the 24 patients at initial UUTT diagnosis was 67 years and the median age at death was 77 years. Bladder cancer was significantly more common among patients with bilateral UUTT compared to those with unilateral UUTT (83% vs 31%, p <0.0001). Routine followup urography was normal in 9 patients 2 to 11 months before the diagnosis of the contralateral UUTT. Nine patients died of UUTT and 5 patients died of bladder cancer. Bilateral subsequent upper tract tumors are rare, in general diagnosed at an older age and associated with short survival. Many patients die of bladder cancer and it may be possible to improve survival if the bladder cancer is treated early and aggressively. Routine followup urography is not indicated among patients with a tumor-free bladder and a history of UUTT.

Geographical variation in incidence of prostate cancer in Sweden

To investigate the geographical variation in prostate cancer incidence in Sweden, in particular the incidences of screening-detected tumours and curative treatment of prostate cancer. Data were retrieved from the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden for all cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the year 2000-01. There were a total of 14 376 cases of prostate cancer and the mean total annual age-adjusted incidence was 197/100 000 men. There were 3318 cases in tumour category T1c, i.e. non-palpable tumours diagnosed during work-up for an elevated serum level of prostate-specific antigen, 1006 of which (30%) were asymptomatic and detected at a health check-up. The difference between the counties with the lowest and highest age-adjusted incidences per 100 000 men of total prostate cancer was almost twofold (128 vs 217). The corresponding variation in incidence of category T1c tumours was more than fourfold (13 vs 60); the difference in incidence of T1c tumours detected in asymptomatic men was up to 10-fold (2 vs 20); and there was more than a fourfold variation in incidence of curative treatment between counties (13 vs 67). Measured incidences were mostly highest in urban regions and in counties with university hospitals. There are large geographical variations in prostate cancer incidence and in the frequency of curative treatment for prostate cancer in Sweden and there appear to be large geographical variations in the uptake of prostate cancer screening.

Trends in lung cancer incidence in Sweden with special reference to period and birth cohorts.

Sweden has one of the largest population-based cancer registers in the world that provides an opportunity to examine the trend of lung cancer incidence during a 35-year period. The primary aim of the present study was to estimate the effects of birth cohort, year of diagnosis (period), and age on the time trends of lung cancer incidence rates, and to analyze the gender-specific incidence of different histopathological types of lung cancer. Among men the age-standardized incidence rate increased steadily up to 1982, when a peak of 49 cases per 100,000 person-years was reached. Among women the incidence rate was lower and showed a monotonic increase throughout the observation period. The fastest rate of increase was noted among the youngest women. In women, but not in men, there was a steady increase in risk with each successive birth cohort. For both sexes there were large changes in the histopathological distributions of cases. The most notable was a major increase in adenocarcinomas. The overall age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer in Sweden has stabilized in men during the past two decades while rates are still increasing in women. In view of the continued high prevalence of smoking among young women, a future definite increase in the overall number of lung cancer cases in women can be expected.

Recent trends in breast cancer incidence in Sweden.

Breast cancer incidence in Sweden during the period 1984-93 shows no clear trend in women aged below 40 years but a transient increase at ages 50-69 years, probably as a result of mammography screening. Our data give no indication that use of oral contraceptives or replacement hormones have affected nationwide breast cancer incidence rates.

Trends in colorectal cancer incidence in Sweden 1959-93 by gender, localization, time period, and birth cohort.

This study examined invasive colorectal cancer incidence-rates in Sweden from 1959 through 1993 (n = 134,643 cases). Age-standardized rates were calculated using the Swedish population in 1970 as a reference. In right-sided colon cancer (ascending and transverse colon including right and left flexures), male age-standardized rates rose from 8.0 to 15.0 (1.8 percent annually, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-2.4) and female rates increased from 9.1 to 14.4 (1.5 percent annually, CI = 1.0-2.0). For left-sided colon cancer (descending and sigmoid colon), the rates have been stable recently. For rectal cancer, the rates among men rose from 18.8 to 23.0 and among women from 10.7 to 14.7. For both men and women, the relative risk (RR) of right-sided colon cancer had been increasing in successive generations, until leveling-off in those born after 1930. The RR of left-sided colon cancer had been almost constant for cohorts born before 1930 but steadily decreasing in later-born cohorts. The RR of rectal cancer was slightly increasing in successive cohorts. Changes in lifestyle or carcinogenic exposures during early life probably explain Swedish colorectal cancer incidence-trends better than improved diagnostic activities.

Trends in urinary bladder cancer incidence in Sweden 1960-93 with special reference to histopathology, time period, birth cohort, and smoking.

This study investigates the incidence trends of urinary bladder cancer in Sweden from 1960 through 1993 (a total of 46,211 cases). Age-standardized incidence rates increased among men from 14.6 per 10(5) in 1960 to 33.5 in 1993 and among women from 4.8 to 8.8, corresponding to an average annual increase of 2.4 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI]) = 2.0-2.7 percent) and 1.1 percent (CI = 0.9-1.4 percent), respectively. The largest increase occurred in the oldest age-groups. The proportion of patients with transitional cell carcinoma increased in men from 66.0 percent in 1960-64 to 93.6 percent in 1990-93 and in women from 61.0 percent to 89.4 percent. The proportion of patients with papillomas decreased, whereas those with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were stable. Regression modeling (based on the period 1960-89) showed a strong linear effect due to either period and/or cohort. Among men, additional non-linear effects by both period and cohort were obtained. The cohort effects were more important. Cohort data on having smoked daily showed considerable similarities with the estimated cohort-effects. Our findings suggest that the increase of tobacco smoking in successive generations can explain the increase in incidence rates of bladder cancer in Sweden, whereas improved diagnostic activities and registration are less likely to explain fully the changes in incidence rates.

Trends in breast cancer incidence in Sweden 1958-1988 by time period and birth cohort

Statistics from the Swedish National Cancer Registry based on all 110,658 cases of invasive breast cancer during the 31-year period 1958-1988 were analysed. Age-specific incidence rates increased over successive calendar periods. The average annual increase in the age-standardised incidence rate was 1.3%, with the greatest percentage changes among the youngest age groups. During the latter half of the study period, the rates of increase tended to diminish in the youngest age groups and even reversed significantly among women from 75 years of age. In analyses using age-period-cohort models, the best fit of the cancer incidence data was found for the full model which simultaneously considered the effects of age, period and cohort. Cohort effects were found to be more important than period effects, in terms of model fit. These effects emerged as a seemingly consistent, and in a logarithmic scale, fairly linear increase in the relative risk of breast cancer incidence with a 3-fold elevation in women born in the 1950's relative to those born in the 1880's. It is concluded that the rising breast cancer incidence in Sweden is explained chiefly by birth cohort effects, which indicate persistent secular changes in largely unknown risk factors associated with life style. We could not in the present data see any clear evidence for an adverse effect of contraceptive or replacement sex steroids on breast cancer incidence.

Trends in thyroid cancer incidence in Sweden, 1958–1981, by histopathologic type

Time trends in the incidence of malignant neoplasms of the thyroid were examined for Sweden for the period 1958-81, 5,838 cases being studied. Autopsy-diagnosed cases were excluded. Mean annual changes in the age-standardized rates over this period were 1.9% and 1.2% for women and men, respectively, for all thyroid carcinomas combined; 4.9% and 2.1% for papillary carcinoma; 0.9% and 2.1% for follicular carcinoma; and -1.0% and -2.1% for anaplastic carcinoma. Age, period and cohort models were fitted. There was a progressive increase in papillary cancer incidence for cohorts born since 1919. This increase cannot be satisfactorily explained as an artefact of trends in classification, and probably reflects a real increase in incidence. A less marked increase was seen for follicular cancer, and there was a decline for cohorts born since 1939. While the risk of papillary and anaplastic carcinoma was lower in iodine-deficient areas, follicular cancer risk was twice as high in these areas, for men only. There was a steady decline of anaplastic cancer in both sexes after 1965, largely attributable to a decline in cohorts born since 1924.