Survival of adolescent and young adult cancer patients in North Malabar: A hospital-based cancer registry data

Abstract

Objectives: Cancer burden varies by age group. Most cancers affect older adults, including cancers of the colorectum, breast, lung, and prostate. The incidence and patterns of this disease in adolescents and young adults are poorly understood and rarely reported in the literature. The knowledge of survival is also essential for managing cancer. Thus, this study aims to examine the magnitude, pattern, and survival of adolescent and young adult cancer patients. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients using data from a hospital-based cancer registry (HBCR). All AYA cancer patients registered in the HBCR between 2013 and 2018 were included and followed up until 2023. The patients who received curative treatment were considered for survival estimation. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival, and the log-rank test was applied to compare survival across demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: According to the hospital-based cancer registry data, a total of 25,538 patients were registered between 2013 and 2018, of whom 2,111 (8.3%) belonged to the AYA age group. Among males, the five leading cancers were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), brain and nervous system cancers, tongue cancer, myeloid leukaemia, and bone cancer. In females, the leading cancers were breast, thyroid, ovarian, myeloid leukaemia, and brain and nervous system cancers. Only patients who received curative treatment were included in the survival analysis. The five-year survival rate among AYA cancer patients was 75.4%. Using the log-rank test, survival differences were found to be statistically significant for sex and stage. Conclusion: In this study, our findings indicated that AYA cancer patients are more female (61%) than male (39%), and breast cancer was the leading cancer among females (38.3%). The five-year survival rate among breast cancer patients in this study was 81.7%, underscoring the significant progress achieved in early detection and treatment. In order to improve patient survival, public awareness, timely screening, and access to effective therapies are essential.