Cancer Occurrence in Fars Province, Southern Iran

Background: Cancer is a significant health problem in the developing countries, and one that is likely to increase in future. Due to unavailability of data concerning cancer during the last 15 years in our area and young age structure of our country, this active hospital-based study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of cancer in Fars Province, southern Iran. Methods: Data including face-to-face interview with patients and a survey of their medical and demographic records in relation to all invasive cancers were actively collected from 1990 to 2005 from four university hospitals. Among 2993 cases of registered malignant neoplasms presented by site and sex, the crude incidence (CRs), and age-specific incidence and age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100,000 were determined, using the world standard population. Results: Over a 5-year period, 1495 and 1620 cancer cases were registered in males and females, respectively, while breast cancer was at the top of 10 cancers in both sexes. Conclusion: With regard to the top 10 types of cancer, there was a remarkable difference between the results of our study and the estimated cancer incidence for Iran by Globocan 2000. Ethnic, racial and environmental factors may explain these differences but more studies in a longer time span are needed to clarify the causes.