Assessment of 5-year relative survival among patients with cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in Taizhou, Eastern China: a population-based period analysis

Abstract Background Timely assessment of 5-year relative survival (RS) is essential for evaluating gynecological cancer screening programs. This population-based study provides updated survival estimates for cervical (CC), endometrial (EC), and ovarian cancers (OC) in Taizhou, Eastern China. Methods Utilizing four cancer registries with high-quality data in Taizhou City, Eastern China, during 2004–2023 with follow-up through December 2023, we applied period analysis to calculate survival rates and model-based period analysis to project future trends. Results Among 15,908 patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2023, the overall 5-year RS during 2019–2023 was 82.3%. The 5-year RS was 83.5% for CC, 90.7% for EC, and 65.1% for OC. Survival decreased substantially with increasing age and was higher in urban than rural areas. Survival improved across successive periods from 2009–2013 to 2019–2023 for all cancer types. Model-based projections estimated further increases in overall 5-year RS during 2024–2028. This study presents the application of period analysis to establish longitudinal survival benchmarks for gynecological cancers. Conclusion Using period analysis, we provided the most up-to-date 5-year RS for CC, EC, and OC in Taizhou, Eastern China, and also found sustained survival improvements over the past 15 years for these cancers, providing epidemiological support for optimizing local gynecological cancer screening, treatment and targeted cancer control policies.