Improvements in cancer survival in Hungary: a nationwide epidemiology study between 2011–2019 based on a health insurance fund database

Background The assessment of cancer survival is crucial for evaluating advancements in cancer management. As part of the nationwide HUN-CANCER EPI study, we examined the net survival of the Hungarian cancer patient population in 2011–2019. Methods Using extracted data from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) database, the HUN-CANCER EPI study aimed to assess net survival probabilities for various cancer types over the past decade by the Pohar Perme Estimator method, providing insights for sex and age-specific differences and enabling comparative analysis with other European countries. Results Between 2011 and 2019, 526,381 newly diagnosed cancer cases were identified, with colorectal, lung, breast, prostate, and bladder cancers being the most common. Age-standardized 5-year net survival rates showed significant improvements from 2011-12 till 2017-19 periods for colorectal cancer from 55.08% to 59.78% (4.70%), lung cancer from 20.10% to 23.55% (3.45%), liver cancer from 11.21% to 16.97% (5.76%) and melanoma from 90.06% to 93.80% (3.73%), while clinically relevant, but not significant improvements for breast cancer from 85.03% to 86.84% (1.81%), prostate cancer from 88.13% to 89.76% (1.63%) and thyroid cancer from 87.23% to 92.36% (5.12%). Women generally had better survival probabilities, with notable variations across cancer types. We found no significant age-related differences in cancer survival in women, while survival improvements of colorectal cancer were more pronounced in younger cohorts among male patients. International comparisons using different mortality life tables demonstrated favorable breast and prostate cancer survival rates in Hungary compared to other Central Eastern European countries. Conclusion The HUN-CANCER EPI study revealed positive trends in cancer survival for most cancer types between 2011 and 2019. The study highlights the continued positive trajectory of cancer survival in Hungary like to more developed European countries.