Malignant neoplasms of male genital organs (C60-C63) in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia.

Cancers of male genital organs (C60-C63) and in particular, prostate cancer, represent one of the most frequent cancer groups among males in economically developed countries and growing cancer group in developing countries. The Institute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County in collaborate with different county institutes provide updated information on the cancer occurrence and trends in the Osijek-Baranja County (OBC). The aim of this article is to provide information on the tendencies relating to this cancer group in the OBC during the period from 2001 to 2009, which will be the first report on these cancer sites on a county level in Croatia. This article processes data on cancer incidence and mortality, appertaining age distribution, median age at diagnosis and at death, cancer survival and length of stay in hospital in the OBC. From 2001 to 2009, a total of 891 males were diagnosed with cancers of male genital organs and treated in either of the two OBC hospitals. These cancers accounted for 6.2% of all registered cancers and for 12.5% of all registered cancers among males. Overall age-standardized incidence rate was 60.9/100,000 and it growing strongly during the nine-year period. Although the mortality rate increased too (overall rate was 30.5/100,000), the increase was not as huge as the one in the rate of incidence. Overall median ages at diagnosis and at death were 67.1 years and 74.6 years, respectively. The 5-year relative survival rate was estimated to be 53.4%. This report reveals weak reduction in the average length of stay in hospital per patient in the 9-years period (from 11.8 to 11.3 days) and at the same time, the number of admissions almost tripled (from 84 to 221), which is a consequence of the same rise in the number of newly registered cases. During the course of the illness, an average patient was hospitalized 1.6 times and the average length of hospital care was 11.0 days. All the indicators of the quality of the health care provided to C60-C63 cancer patients in the OBC suggest that further advancement in raising the level of diagnostics and treatment should and can be expected in order to reach the corresponding EU standards. An increased incidence and mortality rate from C60-C63 cancers leads to the conclusion that great efforts should be invested into raising the awareness of the male population over 45 years of age on the recognition of the first symptoms of this cancer group and on early preventive examination as to decrease the mortality rate and increase the survival rate and the quality of life of patients suffering from this cancer group.