Cancer mortality trends in Sweden 1960-1986.

Time-related trends in age-standardized cancer mortality have been suggested to be the best single measure of the progress--or lack of progress--in cancer control measures. The paper presents data on trends in Sweden during 1960-1986. From the middle of the 1970s, total cancer mortality decreased significantly among both males and females. The estimated annual decrease between 1975 and 1986 was 0.5-1.2%. Current Swedish trends are thus in keeping with the goal stated in the European Community's action programme 'Europe against cancer': a 10-15% decrease in total age-standardized cancer mortality by the year 2000. This goal might even be too conservative, because most of the cancer control measures in 'Europe against cancer' will not be able to enhance the current downward trends until the early 1990s.