Abstract

Background: Cancer is an increasing cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Incidences of common cancers has been growing in different provinces of Iran in recent years but trends in Khuzestan which shares a border with Iraq and is located in south west of Iran have not been investigated. This study aimed to assess secular changes in incidences of common cancers in Khuzestan province from 2004 to 2008. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from Khuzestan cancer registry which is a branch of Iranian Ministry of Health Cancer Registry (http://ircancer.ir) for the period 2004-2008. Data were presented as incidence rates by site, sex, age, using the crude rate and age-standardized rate (ASR) per 10(5) persons. A direct method of standardization was applied according to the WHO guideline and data analysis was performed using the SPSS package. Results: During the 2004-2008 period, 14,893 new cases of cancer were registered in Khuzestan cancer registry. The age-standardized incidence rate of all cancers was 153.7 per 10(5) in males and 156.4 per 10(5) in females. The incidence was increased over the period of five years. The most incident cancers among males were skin cancer (ASR=18.7/10(5)), stomach cancer (ASR13.8/10(5)), lung cancer (ASR12.9/10(5)), leukemia (ASR=12.6/10(5)) and prostate cancer (ASR=12.4/10(5)). In females, the most incident cancers were breast cancer (ASR=41/10(5)), skin cancer (ASR=16.4/10(5)), colorectal cancer (ASR=10.0/10(5)), leukemia (ASR=8.1/10(5)) and lung cancer (ASR=6.9/10(5)). Conclusions: Incidences of various cancers are rising in Khuzestan. It is necessary to develop and implement comprehensive cancer control programs in this region which could be monitored and evaluated by the future trend data from Khuzestan cancer registry.