Cancer incidence in northern Thailand: Results from six population‐based cancer registries 1993–2012

Abstract

Rapid changes in social and economic development have led to cancer becoming a major cause of national morbidity and mortality in Thailand. Cancer registries have been critical in documenting subnational cancer patterns and transitions in the country; with the establishment of six registries in northern Thailand, a comprehensive assessment of the scale and profile of cancer is now possible in the region. Cancers of the liver, lung, colorectum, breast and cervix were the major cancers 2008-2012, although variations in the profiles of cancer were observed, with a very high incidence of liver cancer seen among males in Phrae, corresponding to one in 11 men developing the disease in a lifetime. Based on data from Lampang and Chiang Mai 1993-2012, rates of lung and cervical cancer incidence have declined, while liver, colorectal and breast cancer incidence have been increasing up to 2012. A more detailed investigation of the incidence trends for specific cancer sites and subtypes at the local level are crucial to the monitoring and evaluation of the cancer control interventions implemented within the Thai national cancer control programme (NCCP). Priority should be given to extend the capacity of the new registries in northern Thailand, ensuring improvement in quality and utilization of the data to drive epidemiologic research and cancer control.

Cancer Statistics, 2020: Report From National Cancer Registry Programme, India

“…20 , 21 Local cultural factors and lifestyle choices may have contributed to the heterogeneity in cancer incidence pattern and differences in India, as was seen in Thailand. 7 …”

“… 2 Publications from developed and developing countries provide updated information on cancer occurrence, trends, and projections. 3 - 7 In India, the systematic collection of data on cancer has been performed since 1982 by the population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) and hospital-based cancer registries (HBCRs) under the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP)–National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR; ICMR-NCDIR-NCRP), Bengaluru (Appendix). NCRP commenced with the objective of generating reliable data on the magnitude and patterns of cancer.…”

Risk patterns of lung cancer mortality in northern Thailand

“…We used data on lung cancer mortality from the Chiang Mai Cancer Registry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University and the Lampang Cancer Registry, Lampang Cancer Hospital, that covered population-based cancer in Northern Thailand. Moreover, data collection was completed adequately and the completeness of the data was satisfactory for our study [ 43 ]. The participants in this study were 10,468 adults (> 15 years old) diagnosed with cancer of the lung (coded as International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) C33–34) between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2014 who then subsequently died from any cause between 1 January 2008 to 1 July 2017.…”

Temporal Changes in Head and Neck Cancer Incidence in Thailand Suggest Changing Oropharyngeal Epidemiology in the Region

“…59,60 As a result of these aggressive control methods, the overall smoking rate in Thailand has decreases from 30% in 1976% to 19.9% in 2013 61 ; lung cancer rates, particularly in Northern Thailand, have also decreased. 62 As demonstrated in Figure 2, the EASR of laryngeal cancer among women in Thailand has been, and remains, relatively low, and observed decreases are noted across all registries. In addition to the aforementioned control methods, cultural norms in Thailand have historically resulted in women abstaining from smoking and drinking.…”