RECTAL CANCER IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS: PREVALENCE, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES

The paper presents an analysis of rectal cancer incidence in the Republic of Belarus over the 30-year time period, assessing earliness of the diagnosis and treatment outcomes. From 1980 through 2010, rectal cancer incidence in Belarus increased 2.4-fold (from 8.9 to 21.0 per 100 000 population). The proportion of rectal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery grew from 32.4 % in 1985 to 57.2 % in 2010. One-year mortality rates decreased and were 37.6 % in 1994 and 27.2 % in 2010. The share of rectal cancer patients followed up for 5 years and more after establishing the diagnosis was 34.5 % in 1990 and 51.7 % in 2010.