Survey of cancer incidence during a 5-year (1998-2002) period in Semnan province

Introduction: Suitable information of different cancers in special geographic area can define medical programs for treatment and screening of high-risk groups. The provincial health authority reported a high mortality rate from upper GI cancer in the center of Iran. A comprehensive search was undertaken to survey and register all cases of cancer during a 5-year (1998-2002) period among the indigenous population of Semnan province. Materials and Methods: Diagnosis of cancer was based on histopathology, clinical or radiological findings of patients, and death certificate. Results: A total of 1732 patients with cancers (mean age 59.41 19.08 years) were found during the study. Of these, 936(54.86%) were in males. Crude rate were 124.8/100’000 and 112.1/100,000 in males and females, respectively. Age-standardized rate (ASRs) for all cancers in males and females were 156/100’000 and 136/100,000 person-year, respectively. Gastric cancer was the most common tumor with incidence rate of 19.7 per 100,000 people, ASRs=27.5. In UGIC, gastric cancer was the most common (47.17%), colon malignancies (8.1%, 9.5 per 100,000 populations), esophagus (6.8%, 7.9 per 100,000 populations), liver (2.4%, and 2.8 per 100,000 populations). In women breast, uterine and ovary, stomach and skin were the most common cancers respectively. In young ages population the most common tumors were brain, ALL and bone, respectively. Conclusion: Gastric cancer alone constitutes one-fifth of all cancers in Semnan, with the highest incidence rate. The ASR of which is the highest reported from Iran up to now and one of the highest in the world