Cancer in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Study (1987-1988)

Abstract

This study presents the findings of the first population-based tumor registry in the Eastern region (ER). Data on all cancer sites, in 1987 and 1988, were captured from all health facilities in the ER. A regional population census was obtained from regional health authorities. Cancer deaths were obtained from death registries. Age-specific rate, crude incidence rate (CIR), age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) and relative age-standardized incidence rate (%ASR) were compared with available population-based data from 137 tumor registries. 1559 primary cancer cases were captured. The CIR and ASR/100,000/year for cancer among Saudi males were respectively 59.8 and 125.7. The corresponding rates among Saudi females were 43.6 and 95.5. These rates rank very low on the international scale. Cancer sites with the highest %ASR among Saudi males were lung, lymphomas, leukemias, urinary bladder and tumors of uncertain primary. For Saudi females, these sites were breast, leukemias, tumors of brain and nervous system, thyroid and tumors of uncertain primary. Lung cancer was the leading cause of death from cancer among Saudi males. The first regional population-based cancer registry in Saudi Arabia was established in 1987. The overall cancer ASR in the ER is low. The leading cancer sites with the highest %ASR are lung in Saudi males and breast in Saudi females. Ann Saudi Med 1997;17(1): 53-65. TM Al Tamimi, EM Ibrahim, AM Ibrahim, AA Al-Bar, SA Assuhaimi, GS Gabriel, AM Mishriky, HY Al-Idrissi, MO Al-Sohaibani, MH Al-Sibai, Cancer in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: a Population-Based Study (1987-1988). 1997; 17(1): 53-65 Cancer is becoming a leading cause of death in many countries of the world. The perceived impression about cancer being predominantly a disease of developed and affluent societies is a common misconception. In 1984, over half of the annual world total of 5.8 million new cancer cases were reported from developing countries. 1 The incidence of cancer in these countries is likely to show a progressive increase due to several factors. First, the improvement in health care and sanitation and the control of infectious diseases has resulted in an increase in life expectancy. Second, the diagnostic techniques and methods of early detection have been markedly improved. Finally, the urbanization and changes in lifestyle recently witnessed in many developing countries might be emerging as risk factors for cancer in these societies.The nature and quality of health information are significantly different in developing countries, compared with those in more developed geographical regions. This is notably true for cancer statistics. Parkin has pointed out several obstacles that cancer statistics procedures in developing countries commonly face.2 These are mainly the lack of health services infrastructure; the restricted resources that would limit a sizable proportion of population having access to health facilities, thereby influencing the validity of data; the problem of extensive population migration; the lack o...

Retrospective Study Assessing Breast Cancer Occurrence and its Risk Factors among Females at Al Ahsa

“…In Riyadh, two-thirds of BC cases were premenopausal [33][34]. As well as result was consistent since the first registry in the eastern province for Saudi women [35] which mentioned that the crude incidence rate (CIR), age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) were 43.6 and 95.5, correspondingly. In another study in eastern region between 1985-1995, they also found that most of the females were pre-menopausal (79%) at age below 50 years [15].…”

Lung cancer at a university hospital in Saudi Arabia: A four-year prospective study of clinical, pathological, radiological, bronchoscopic, and biochemical parameters

“…[6] In the UK lung cancer is still among the most frequently occurring cancers and accounts for one in five of new cancer cases; that is 34,000 new patients annually. [1011] In KSA, in contrast to early studies where lung cancer was rarely reported,[12–21] the prevalence of lung cancer has increased significantly in the recent years; this is, mainly attributed to the increased incidence of cigarette smoking among men and women in our community. [22] In 2004, the National Cancer Registry in KSA reported that lung cancer ranked fifth in males and seventeenth in females.…”

Knowledge of breast cancer and its risk and protective factors among women in Riyadh

“…10 The incidence rate of cancer in Saudi Arabia is predicted to continue rising, partly due to rapid changes in lifestyle, the increasing consumption of cigarettes, the high caloric and fatty diet intake observed during the last decade, and partly due to the natural aging of this young Saudi population in the years to come. 11 …”

“…Currently, lectures in a major hospital in Riyadh that foster public awareness of breast cancer are given every two months and certified nurses provide workshops on breast-examination. 11 Breast cancer awareness programs (BCAP) are meant to help in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer. This study was carried out with the objectives of (i) assessing the knowledge of breast cancer and its associated factors (risk and protective) among the women of Riyadh city, (ii) assessing the source of knowledge of breast cancer, (iii) observing any association between family history of breast cancer, marital status and educational level of study participants versus their knowledge and practice of breast self examination and mammography.…”