Table 1

Cancer stages at diagnosis, primary treatment modalities and corresponding long-term health state descriptions^*

Cancer	Stage at diagnosis and primary treatment	Health state descriptions		Not included
Cancer	Stage at diagnosis and primary treatment	Cancer stage and treatment	Long-term health state in ≥50% patients and patient follow-up for 5 years from primary treatment	Not included
Anal	90% Cases stages I–III.8 Chemoradiation is the only primary treatment for anal cancer.9	Anal cancer stages I–III. Treated with chemoradiation.	Diarrhoea, tiredness and nausea; impact on usual activities; decreased sexual functioning and enjoyment. Review 2–3 times per year (digital rectal examination and anoscopy).	Stage IV. Patients with abdominoperitoneal resection and stoma. Patients treated with surgical excision.
Oropharyngeal	90% Cancers present as stage II/III.10 Most patients have surgery followed by radiotherapy.11 ^†	Oropharyngeal cancer stages II–III. Treated with neck dissection and chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or surgery.	Occasional pain; difficulty chewing and swallowing affecting diet/eating; dry throat affecting speech; reduced neck mobility; tiredness; impact on usual activities. Review 2–3 times per year.	Stage I and stage IV. Disfiguring effects of surgery. Patients who require feeding tubes.
Penile	62% Cases local12; 70% penile-preserving treatment is laser therapy.13	Penile cancer stage I. Treated with laser therapy only—no disfigurement.	Recovered well and satisfied with surgery; no impairment of sexual functioning/satisfaction. Frequent self-inspection and review 2–4 times per year.	Stages II–IV. Patients requiring partial or complete penectomy.
Vulval	∼66% Vulval cancers are localised—predominantly stages I–II.14 Treatment is radical wide excision where possible + lymph node dissection.14	Vulval cancer stage I. Treated with radical wide excision and lymph node dissection.	Vigilance because of risk of lymphoedema; clitoris intact and can still reach orgasm but reduced sexual satisfaction because of disfigurement. Review 2–3 times per year.	Stages II–IV. Patients with radical vulvectomy and/or compromised bowel or urinary function.
Vaginal	∼50% cases localised—predominantly stage 1.15 Radiotherapy + lymph node dissection is standard treatment.16	Vaginal cancer stage I. Treated with chemoradiation and lymph node dissection.	Vigilance because of risk of lymphoedema; menopause; sexual problems related to vaginal dryness and scar tissue; bowel and bladder irritation. Review 2–3 times per year (vaginal exam).	Stages II–IV.

↵* Full details in online technical appendix.
↵† Data on 548 patients with stage I–IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from 10 Australian centres: 55.8% surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy, 18.9% chemoradiation, 10.8% surgery alone and 14% radiotherapy alone (A Hong, personal communication).