Cancer incidence in western region of Libya: Report of the year 2009 from tripoli pathology-based cancer registry

Abstract

Background and Aims: Cancer incidence rates are increasing in developed and developing countries. In Libya, it is vital for policymakers to know basic cancer epidemiology in each region of the country to design broad cancer prevention plans. This study aimed to determine the incidence rates (age-standardized) of different cancers in the western region of Libya. Materials and Methods: All histological proven cancer cases recorded in the cancer registry of Pathology Department at the Tripoli Medical Center (TMC) during the year 2009 were evaluated. Data were included demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, residence, date of diagnosis, and histopathological diagnosis, which were coded using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision. Cancer cases from outside the western region of Libya were excluded from the study. The incidence rates of cancer cases were standardized with reference to the age and sex distribution of the total regional population of Libya which was calculated based on the real census performed by Libyan statistics authority in 2006. Results: A total of 1013 patients were diagnosed and registered with cancer at TMC. Male accounted for 48.3% (489 patients) of the cases, and females for 51.7% (524 patients), with M:F ratio of 1:1.07. The overall mean age (±standard deviation) at the time of the first diagnosis was 52.01 ± 20.36 years. The most frequent cancers in both genders were as follows: breast (10.8%), colorectal (10.7%), lung (9.2%), lymphoma (8.5%), and leukemia (8.3%), whereas in males, lung (14.1%), colorectal (11%), leukemia (9.4%), lymphoma (9%), and prostate 7.6%) and in females, breast (20.6%), colorectal (10.5%), lymphoma (8%), uterine (7.4%), and leukemia (7.3%). Conclusion: Breast cancer was the most common cancer in females and lung cancer in males followed by colorectal cancer in both sexes. The information presented in this study can contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of various cancers in Libya and consequently, it provide a useful guide for the decision-makers to construct efficacious decisions about cancer control in Libya.