Cancer Incidence in Kerman Province, Southeast of Iran: Report of an ongoing Population-Based Cancer Registry, 2014

Abstract

Introduction: The epidemiology of common cancers in Kerman province, southeast of Iran, was assessed based<br />upon results of the Kerman Population-Based Cancer Registry Program (KPBCR). Methods: in this retrospective study,<br />all patients diagnosed with primary cancers and registered with the KPBCR were included. New cancer cases registered<br />from 2014 were identified from pathological labs, medical reports of 48 health facilities providing cancer diagnosis or<br />treatment services and the national death registry program. Data for patients who were referred to neighboring provinces<br />to access health services were also collected from national referral registries. Results from autopsies was additionally<br />extracted from regional forensic and legal medicine centers and added to the registry periodically. Age standardized<br />incidence rates (ASRs) per 100,000 person-years for all cancers were computed, using direct-standardization and CanReg<br />methodology. Mortality to incidence (M:I) ratios and microscopically verified (MV) proportions were calculated as<br />quality measures. Results: A total of 2,838 cases of cancer were registered in Kerman province, 2014. Of these 45. 6%<br />involved women (n=1,293). Individuals aged 60-64 years represented the largest proportion (11.6%) of the total cancer<br />prevalence, followed by those aged 55-59 years (10.86%) and 65-69 years (8.99%). The ASRs for all cancers were<br />155.1 and 118.90 per 100,000, in men and women, respectively. In women, breast (ASR: 26.4), skin (ASR: 13.0),<br />thyroid (ASR: 9.2), leukemia (ASR: 8.0) and colorectal (ASR: 7.70) were the most common cancers. In men, bladder<br />(ASR: 24.70), skin (ASR: 16.80), lung (ASR: 14.6), leukemia (ASR: 14.50), and stomach (ASR: 10.8) were found to<br />be the most frequent. Conclusion: This study provided latest evidence on epidemiology of cancer in the southeast of<br />Iran that could be used to empower prevention and control interventions in a developing country.