Incidence of Cancer from 2015 to 2019 in Northwestern of Iran: A Population-Based on Cancer Registry Profile of Maragheh County

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and poses a significant obstacle to increasing life expectancy in every country, including Iran, where it is a major health threat. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the cancer situation in Maragheh County, Iran, from 2015 to 2019. Methods: Data from Maragheh County for the years 2015 - 2019 were obtained from the Iranian National Population-Based Cancer Registry and the Statistical Center of Iran. The age-standardized rate (ASR) was calculated using the population model suggested by the WHO, with STATA software for data analysis. Results: During the study period, Maragheh recorded a total of 1,700 cancer cases, with males accounting for 970 (54%) of these cases. The average age of cancer patients was 62.4 ± 22.2 years. The ASR for cancer in females ranged from 101.5 to 165.5 per 100,000 people, and for males, it ranged from 128.3 to 150.3 per 100,000 people. Conclusions: The incidence rate of cancer in Maragheh was slightly different from that in Iran and East Azerbaijan province but remained below the global average. The most common cancers in men were stomach, lung, bladder, colorectal, and prostate cancer, while in women, they were breast, colorectal, stomach, leukemia, and thyroid cancer.