Cancer incidence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2020

BackgroundTo present the population-based cancer statistics for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, an incidence study was conducted at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH & RC) in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2023.MethodsRecords from various centres on new cancers diagnosed among residents of KP between January and December 2020 were gathered. Both active and passive methods of data collection were applied, and the information was saved in a central repository at SKMCH & RC. The incidence rates were computed by age group and sex and presented per 100,000 population.ResultsAmong children (0-14 years), the Age-Standardised Incidence Rate (ASIR) was 4.0 in girls and 6.1 in boys, and haematologic malignancies were more prevalent; in adolescents (15-19 years), the ASIR was 7.7 in females, 9.4 in males, and bone tumours, haematologic malignancies, and neurological cancers were prominent; in adult females (> / = 20 years), the ASIR was 84.9, and cancers of the breast, digestive system, and reproductive organs were predominant; and adult males, the ASIR was 73.0, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, lip/oral cavity/pharynx, prostate, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) were common.ConclusionsIt is crucial to investigate the aetiology of these diseases at the community level because dietary elements, infectious diseases, and tobacco use all appear to be significant contributors. Prospective studies could play a key role in highlighting the factors linked to these diseases. Therefore, cancer registration must continue in conjunction with the exploration of risk factors.

Automated summary

This study presents population-based cancer statistics for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The study collected records of new cancer cases among residents of KP and analyzed the incidence rates by age group and sex, identifying the common types of cancer in different populations.