Survival from colorectal cancer in Victoria: 10-year follow up of the 1987 management survey

Background: In 1987, the Victorian Cancer Registry identified a population-based sample of patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer for an audit of management following resection. Over 10 years have passed since this survey, and data oil the Survival of these patients (incorporating various prognostic indicators collected at the time of the survey) are now discussed in the present report. Methods: Relative survival analysis was conducted for each prognostic indicator separately and then combined in a multivariate model. Results: Relative survival at 5 years for patients undergoing curative resections was 76% compared with 7% for those whose treatment was considered palliative. Survival at 10 years was little changed (73% and 7% respectively). Survival did not differ significantly by sex or age irrespective of treatment intention. In the curative group, Only stage was a significant predictor of survival. Multivariate analysis was performed only for the Curative group. Adjusting for all variables simultaneously, stage was the only significant predictor of survival. Patients with Dukes' stage C disease were at a significantly greater risk (OR 5.5 (1.7-17.6)) than those with Dukes' A. Neither tumour site, sex, age, surgeon activity level nor adjuvant therapies made a significant contribution to the model.