Israel Medical Association Journal

Background: There is a rising incidence of bladder cancer (BC) in Israel and worldwide. BC is currently the fourth most common cancer in Israeli males. There are large variations in the incidence of BC observed in different populations, both in Israel and worldwide.

Objectives: To characterize the time trends and epidemiologic profile of BC in Israel regarding various population demographics.

Methods: All cases of BC reported to the Israeli National Cancer Registry between 1996 and 2016 were included. We calculated age standardized rates for BC. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to study trends in incidence as expressed by annual percent change (APC) in incidence.

Results: Between 1996 and 2016, 28,953 cases of BC were diagnosed in Israel. BC rates in Jewish males peaked in 2006 and subsequently declined (APC = -1.69, P < 0.05). Between 1996 and 2011, in-situ BC rates increased for both Jewish (APC = 28.2, P < 0.05) and Arab males (APC = 16.76, P < 0.05). Invasive BC incidence in Jewish males declined from 2005 to 2016 (APC = -7.6, P< 0.05) as well as in Arab males from 2006 to 2011 (APC = -12.0, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: In the past two decades, in situ BC rates have risen, while invasive BC rates have decreased. BC epidemiology mirrors lung cancer trends, which is expected as smoking is a significant risk factor for both. These trends are important to identify as they can affect clinical guidelines regarding screening in high-risk populations and health care planning.

Background: The Israel National Cancer Registry (INCR) was established in 1960. Reporting has been mandatory since 1982. All neoplasms of uncertain/unknown behavior, in situ and invasive malignancies (excluding basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin), and benign neoplasms of the brain and central nervous system (CNS) are reportable.

Objectives: To assess completeness and timeliness of the INCR for cases diagnosed or treated in 2005.

Methods: Abstractors identified cases of in situ and invasive malignancies and tumors of benign and uncertain behavior of the brain and CNS diagnosed or treated in 2005 in the files of medical records departments, pathology and cytology laboratories, and oncology and hematology institutes in 39 Israeli medical facilities. Cases were linked to the INCR database by national identity number. Duplicate cases, and those found to be non-reportable were excluded from analysis. Completeness was calculated as the percent of reportable cases identified by the survey that were present in the registry. Timeliness was calculated as the percent of reportable cases diagnosed in 2005, which were incorporated into the registry prior to 31 December 2007.

Results: The INCR’s completeness is estimated at 93.7% for all reportable diseases, 96.8% for invasive solid tumors, and 88.0% for hematopoietic tumors. Incident cases for the calendar year 2005 were less likely to be present in the registry database than those diagnosed prior to 2005.

Conclusions: Completeness and timeliness of the INCR are high and meet international guidelines. Fully automated reporting will likely improve the quality and timeliness of INCR data.

Background: The number of cancer survivors has been increasing worldwide and is now approximately 32.6 million and growing. Cancer survivors present a challenge to health care providers because of their higher susceptibility to long-term health outcomes related to their primary disease and treatment.

Objective: To report on the number of cancer survivors and incident cancer cases in the period 1960–2009 in Israel, in order to provide data on the scope of the challenge Israel’s health care funds face.

Methods: The Israel National Cancer Registry (INCR) database was used to identify new cancer cases diagnosed during the period 1960–2009. Lifetable analysis was used to assess changes in cumulative survival and population prevalence of cancer survivors throughout the 50 year study period.

Results: Almost 600,000 invasive cancer cases were diagnosed during the period 1960–2009 (overall absolute survival rate 54%). Within this time period, the number of new patients diagnosed with cancer increased fivefold and that of cancer survivors ninefold. The absolute survival of cancer patients and the prevalence of cancer survivors in the general population significantly increased with time from 34% and 0.5%, respectively (1960–1969), to 62% and 1.9%, respectively (2000–2009). Cumulative absolute survival for 5, 10 and 15 years following diagnosis increased with time as well.

Conclusions: The INCR database is useful to assess progress in the war against cancer. The growing numbers of cancer survivors in Israel present a challenge to the national health and social services system.