Cancer trends in Italy: figures from the cancer registries (1986-1997).

The Italian Network of Cancer Registries analyzed incidence and mortality cancer trends during the period 1986-1997 Overall, 525,645 incident cancers and 269,902 cancer deaths (in subjects 15 years and older) were included. Age-adjusted rates, joinpoints (points in time where trend significantly changes from linearity) and estimated annual percent changes in rates (EAPC) were computed. Overall cancer incidence was significantly increasing in both sexes and cancer mortality was significantly decreasing (since 1991 among males). Incidence and mortality trends are summarised for single cancer sites. Crude rates are also showed to evaluate the effect of population ageing in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic burden for the National Health System.