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A study of skin cancer morbidity in the population followed within 1985-1989 showed skin epithelioma to be the most frequent cancer over the whole period making up 18.2-22.5% of the total number of malignancies. A tendency to an increase in the number of newly diagnosed skin cancers was established (mainly owing to patients in older age groups) with an average growth rate of 9.6%.

An analysis is given of 449 case reports of patients with nodular breast cancer for the period from 1953 to 1967, who showed one tumor node. Most of patients (68%) were radically operated upon, tumor size being 1--4 cm. This is characteristic of patients both with and without metastases in lymph nodes. An average tumor size in the presence of metastases was 3.6 cm, without metastases--3.1 cm. With increasing tumor size the number of patients with lymph node metastases increases too. Metastases were found in 22.2% +/- 13.8% of patients with the tumor up to 1 cm, in 43.4% +/- 5,4% of patients with the tumor up to 1--2 cm. A five-year survival depends on tumor size and, to a greater extent, on the presence of metastases in lymph nodes.

Data on detection of small cell lung cancer in the course of mass screenings are presented. Small cell lung carcinoma was identified in 17.5% of all those who underwent check-ups (stage 1-1,5; stage II--16.7; stage III--30.3 and stage IV--51.5%).

The paper deals with problems of screening for neoplasms in the course of follow-up. 58.6% of all tumors were detected by screening. The number of cases of advanced cancer has stayed unchanged within the last 5 years.

The report discusses the data on out-patient follow-up of female population at different stages within 1971-1979. The results were evaluated versus diagnostic and organizational procedures.

The paper deals with the preliminary results of a randomized study on the efficacy of health resort and sanatorium treatment of patients who underwent surgery for stomach tumors. Out of the total number of the patients who had applied for the treatment and had been examined by local oncologists, 35.4% proved to have recurrences and metastases, while the treatment was contraindicated in 25.6% of cases. It is recommended that practising oncologists should consult specialized oncological establishments in each particular case of application for health resort or sanatorium treatment.

Studies have indicated that the appearance of metastases in regional lymph nodes is not dependent on the tumor size. The probability that the tumor may be local is the greater the less its size. The term "early diagnosis" referred to prophylactic examinations in the up-to-date diagnostics remains to be unwarranted, without distinct boundaries, and the true tumor proliferation may be judged only after a histological assay of lymph nodes.