Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Non-Cancer Mortality among People Diagnosed with Cancer (Australia)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate whether people diagnosed with cancer have an increased risk of death from non-cancer causes compared to the general population.

Methods

The non-cancer mortality of people diagnosed with cancer in Queensland (Australia) between 1982 and 2002 who had not died before 1 January 1993 was compared to the mortality of the total Queensland population, matching by age group and sex, and reporting by standardised mortality ratios.

Results

Compared to the non-cancer mortality in the general population, cancer patients (all cancers combined) were nearly 50% more likely to die of non-cancer causes (SMR = 149.9, 95% CI = [147–153]). This varied by cancer site. Overall melanoma patients had significantly lower non-cancer mortality, female breast cancer patients had similar non-cancer mortality to the general population, while increased non-cancer mortality risks were observed for people diagnosed with cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lung cancer.

Conclusions

Although cancer-specific death rates underestimate the mortality directly associated with a diagnosis of cancer, quantifying the degree of underestimation is difficult due to various competing explanations. There remains an important role for future research in understanding the causes of morbidity among cancer survivors, particularly those looking at both co-morbid illnesses and reductions in quality of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D Forman D Stockton H Moller et al. (2003) ArticleTitleCancer prevalence in the UK: results from the EUROPREVAL study Ann Oncol 14 648–654 Occurrence Handle10.1093/annonc/mdg169 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7jsVSitQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12649115

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. JM Lutz S Francisci E Mugno et al. (2003) ArticleTitleCancer prevalence in Central Europe: the EUROPREVAL Study Ann Oncol 14 313–322 Occurrence Handle10.1093/annonc/mdg059 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Flt12qsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12562661

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. KJ Brameld CDA Holman TJ Threlfall DM Lawrence NH Klerk ParticleDe (2002) ArticleTitleIncreasing ‘active prevalence’ of cancer in Western Australia and its implications for health services Aust New Zeal J Public Health 26 164–169

    Google Scholar 

  4. InstitutionalAuthorNameMMWR (2004) ArticleTitleCancer Survivorship – United States, 1971–2001 MMWR 53 526–529

    Google Scholar 

  5. PL Harkonen SI Makela (2004) ArticleTitleRole of estrogens in development of prostate cancer J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 92 297–305 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.10.016 Occurrence Handle15663993

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. JR Mackey AA Joy (2005) ArticleTitleSkeletal health in postmenopausal survivors of early breast cancer Int J Cancer 114 1010–1015 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ijc.20826 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXjsFWjs7g%3D Occurrence Handle15645435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. N Arber B Levin (2005) ArticleTitleChemoprevention of colorectal cancer: ready for routine use? Recent Results Cancer Res 166 213–230 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXos1WisQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15648192

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. PB Bach LD Cramer D Schrag RJ Downey SE Gelfand CB Begg (2001) ArticleTitleThe influence of hospital volume on survival after resection for lung cancer N Engl J Med 345 181–188 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJM200107193450306 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mvht12jsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11463014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. WE Longo KS Virgo FE Johnson et al. (2000) ArticleTitleRisk factors for morbidity and mortality after colectomy for colon cancer Dis Colon Rectum 43 83–91 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02237249 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3ntFagtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10813129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. M Ezzati AD Lopez (2004) ArticleTitleRegional, disease specific patterns of smoking-attributable mortality in 2000 Tob Control 13 388–395 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2crpt1eisw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15564623

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. M Ezzati AD Lopez (2003) ArticleTitleEstimates of global mortality attributable to smoking in 2000 Lancet 362 847–852 Occurrence Handle13678970

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. MN Rashid F Fuentes RC Touchon PS Wehner (2003) ArticleTitleObesity and the risk for cardiovascular disease Prev Cardiol 6 42–47 Occurrence Handle12624562

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Y Oguma T Shinoda Tagawa (2004) ArticleTitlePhysical activity decreases cardiovascular disease risk in women: review and meta-analysis Am J Prev Med 26 407–418 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.amepre.2004.02.007 Occurrence Handle15165657

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. RS Paffenbarger SuffixJr SN Blair IM Lee (2001) ArticleTitleA history of physical activity, cardiovascular health and longevity: the scientific contributions of Jeremy N Morris, DSc, DPH, FRCP Int J Epidemiol 30 1184–1192 Occurrence Handle10.1093/ije/30.5.1184 Occurrence Handle11689543

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. MM Hudson AC Mertens Y Yasui et al. (2003) ArticleTitleHealth status of adult long-term survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study JAMA 290 1583–1592 Occurrence Handle10.1001/jama.290.12.1583 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnvVals7c%3D Occurrence Handle14506117

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. KC Oeffinger MM Hudson (2004) ArticleTitleLong-term complications following childhood and adolescent cancer: foundations for providing risk-based health care for survivors CA Cancer J Clin 54 208–236 Occurrence Handle15253918

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. LL Robison AC Mertens JD Boice et al. (2002) ArticleTitleStudy design and cohort characteristics of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: a multi-institutional collaborative project Med Pediatr Oncol 38 229–239 Occurrence Handle10.1002/mpo.1316 Occurrence Handle11920786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. MC Cardous Ubbink RC Heinen NE Langeveld et al. (2004) ArticleTitleLong-term cause-specific mortality among five-year survivors of childhood cancer Pediatr Blood Cancer 42 563–573 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2c3ivVarsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15127410

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. DM Green A Hyland CS Chung MA Zevon BC Hall (1999) ArticleTitleCancer and cardiac mortality among 15-year survivors of cancer diagnosed during childhood or adolescence J Clin Oncol 17 3207–3215 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvjvVWqsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10506620

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. AC Mertens Y Yasui JP Neglia et al. (2001) ArticleTitleLate mortality experience in five-year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study J Clin Oncol 19 3163–3172 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mzns1Oltg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11432882

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. BW Brown C Brauner MC Minnotte (1993) ArticleTitleNoncancer deaths in white adult cancer patients J Nat Cancer Inst 85 979–987 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyB28jmslI%3D Occurrence Handle8496983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. AM Meraney A Haese J Palisaar et al. (2005) ArticleTitleSurgical management of prostate cancer: advances based on a rational approach to the data Eur J Cancer 41 888–907 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ejca.2005.02.005 Occurrence Handle15808956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. SA Mangar RA Huddart CC Parker DP Dearnaley VS Khoo A Horwich (2005) ArticleTitleTechnological advances in radiotherapy for the treatment of localised prostate cancer Eur J Cancer 41 908–921 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ejca.2004.12.028 Occurrence Handle15808957

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. PD Bonomi (2004) ArticleTitleTherapeutic advances in second-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer Clin Lung Cancer 6 154–161 Occurrence Handle15555216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. BA Mincey EA Perez (2004) ArticleTitleAdvances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer Mayo Clin Proc 79 810–816 Occurrence Handle15182098

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. C Faivre Finn AM Bouvier Benhamiche JM Phelip S Manfredi V Dancourt J Faivre (2002) ArticleTitleColon cancer in France: evidence for improvement in management and survival Gut 51 60–64 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38zjsVSjsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12077093

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. V White D Hill M Siahpush I Bobevski (2003) ArticleTitleHow has the prevalence of cigarette smoking changed among Australian adults? Trends in smoking prevalence between 1980 and 2001 Tob Control 12 IssueIDSuppl 2 ii67–74 Occurrence Handle12878776

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. A Molarius RW Parsons AJ Dobson et al. (2001) ArticleTitleTrends in cigarette smoking in 36 populations from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s: findings from the WHO MONICA Project Am J Public Health 91 206–212 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7ktFejsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11211628

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Q Zhang Y Wang (2004) ArticleTitleTrends in the association between obesity and socioeconomic status in U.S. adults: 1971 to 2000 Obes Res. 12 1622–1632 Occurrence Handle15536226

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. A Bauman T Armstrong J Davies et al. (2003) ArticleTitleTrends in physical activity participation and the impact of integrated campaigns among Australian adults, 1997–99 Aust N Z J Public Health 27 76–79 Occurrence Handle14705272

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. CL Craig SJ Russell C Cameron A Bauman (2004) ArticleTitleTwenty-year trends in physical activity among Canadian adults Can J Public Health 95 59–63 Occurrence Handle14768744

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Public Health Division (2005) The Health of the people of New South Wales – Report of the Chief Health Officer. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/toc/app_icd_diag. htm. Accessed 17th June 2005

  33. ABS (2005) Causes of Death 2003 [Appendix Comparability of data over time]. Canberra, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Catalogue number 3303.0) (www.abs.gov.au)

  34. AE Grulich A Swerdlow I dos Santos Silva V Beral (1995) ArticleTitleIs the apparent rise in cancer mortality in the elderly real? Analysis of changes in certification and coding of cause of death in England and Wales, 1970–1990 Int J Cancer 63 164–168 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD2cznt1U%3D Occurrence Handle7591198

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. CDHA (2005) National Health Priority Areas. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (http://www.health.gov.au/pq/nhpa/) Accessed 15/07/2005

  36. Queensland Cancer Registry (2004) Cancer in Queensland. Incidence and mortality 1982 to 2002. Brisbane, Queensland Health and Queensland Cancer Fund (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/infocirc/StatsTable1982_2002.pdf )

  37. SAS Institute Inc (2004) SAS OnlineDoc®, Version 9.1.2. Cary NC, SAS Institute Inc

  38. ABS (2004) Causes of Death (various years). Canberra, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Catalogue number 3303.0) (www.abs.gov.au)

  39. JW Coebergh ML Janssen-Heijnen PN Post PP Razenberg (1999) ArticleTitleSerious co-morbidity among unselected cancer patients newly diagnosed in the southeastern part of The Netherlands in 1993–1996 J Clin Epidemiol 52 1131–1136 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0895-4356(99)00098-0 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2Fks1OnsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10580775

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. ML Janssen-Heijnen RM Schipper PP Razenberg MA Crommelin JW Coebergh (1998) ArticleTitlePrevalence of co-morbidity in lung cancer patients and its relationship with treatment: a population-based study Lung Cancer 21 105–113 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-5002(98)00039-7 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FksFSjuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9829544

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. DJ Spronsen Particlevan ML Janssen-Heijnen WP Breed JW Coebergh (1999) ArticleTitlePrevalence of co-morbidity and its relationship to treatment among unselected patients with Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 1993–1996 Annals Hematol 78 315–319

    Google Scholar 

  42. WH Hall AB Jani JK Ryu S Narayan S Vijayakumar (2005) ArticleTitleThe impact of age and comorbidity on survival outcomes and treatment patterns in prostate cancer Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 8 22–30 Occurrence Handle10.1038/sj.pcan.4500772 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7ktlOrsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15700051

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. DM Freedman LB Travis G Gridley RW Kuncl (2005) ArticleTitleAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis mortality in 1.9 million US cancer survivors Neuroepidemiology 25 176–180 Occurrence Handle16103728

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. RA Harrison AU Haque JM Roseman SJ Soong (1998) ArticleTitleSocioeconomic characteristics and melanoma incidence Ann Epidemiol 8 327–333 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1047-2797(97)00231-7 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czjt1akug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9669615

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Glover J, Harris K, Tennant S (1999) A Social Health Atlas of Australia, 2nd Edn. South Australia: Public Health Information Development Unit, University of Adelaide (http://www.publichealth.gov.au Accessed 18/07/2005)

  46. Coory M, Baade PD, Aitken JF, Smithers M, McLeod GRC, Ring I (in press) Trends for in-situ and invasive melanoma in Queensland, Australia, 1982 to 2002. Cancer Causes and Control 17:21–27

  47. NH Gordon (2003) ArticleTitleSocioeconomic factors and breast cancer in black and white Americans Cancer Metastasis Rev 22 55–65 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022212018158 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpt1WktQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12716037

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. P Boyle P Maisonneuve (1995) ArticleTitleLung cancer and tobacco smoking Lung Cancer 12 167–181 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0169-5002(95)00443-5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqA1cvls10%3D Occurrence Handle7655828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Ridolfo B, Stevenson C (2001) The quantification of drug-caused mortality and morbidity in Australia, 1998. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. AIHW Cat. No. PHE 29

  50. EM Barbeau N Krieger MJ Soobader (2004) ArticleTitleWorking class matters: socioeconomic disadvantage, race/ethnicity, gender, and smoking in NHIS 2000 Am J Public Health 94 269–278 Occurrence Handle14759942

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Unit, Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, PO Box 201, Spring Hill QLD 4001, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Peter D. Baade & Lin Fritschi

  2. Behavioural Science Unit, Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Elizabeth G. Eakin

Authors
  1. Peter D. Baade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lin Fritschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elizabeth G. Eakin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter D. Baade.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baade, P.D., Fritschi, L. & Eakin, E.G. Non-Cancer Mortality among People Diagnosed with Cancer (Australia). Cancer Causes Control 17, 287–297 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-0530-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-0530-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation