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The proposed project is focused on the outcomes in testicular cancer in Estonia, combining the methods of descriptive epidemiology and clinical oncology. The study is an extension of the previous collaborative research on cancer patients' survival in Estonia and Europe. Based on the results of the EU Concerted Action EUROCARE, the five-year relative survival rate of patients diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1978-1994 was much lower in Estonia than in the other European countries. The results of the EUROCARE High Resolution Study indicated that the poorer outcomes in Estonia could be related to later diagnosis and delayed introduction of modern diagnostic and treatment methods. During the proposed project, the detailed information about diagnosing and treatment of testicular cancer will be retrospectively collected from the clinical records (1985-2002). The time trend in survival during the 35-year period (1968-2002) will be analysed on the basis of data from the Estonian Cancer Registry. The study aims to explain why the survival is lower in Estonia than in the other European countries. In the final stage of the project, the modified recommendations for diagnosing and treatment will be published and the inter-disciplinary seminar will be organized. |