Increased Trend of Breast Cancer Mortality in Iran

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide In Iran, it ranksfirst among cancers diagnosed in women and is the fifth most common cause of death. The aim of this study wasto present the mortality trends from breast cancer for Iranian women during a period of almost a decade, inorder to provide update information regarding the likely future. <br/><b>Methods</b>: We analyzed National death Statisticreported by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 1995 to 2004 to generate annual mortalityrates/100,000, overall, by age group (<15, 15-49 and ≥50 years of age) and age standardized rate (ASR). <br/><b>Results</b>:The age standardized mortality rate of breast cancer increased dramatically during these years from 1.40 to3.52 per 100,000 and its mortality was increasing 151.4% for Iranian women, although it seemed that the rateleveled off from 2002 to 2004. Moreover the increasing rate was higher for those aged between 15-49 comparedto age >50 years old. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: There is an increasing trend for breast cancer mortality in Iran. Thus, healtheducation programs to rectify the lack of women awareness about breast cancer signs and effective screeningare urgently needed.