Cancer In Iraq Research Articles

Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Baghdad City 2018

Objective (s): To highlight the epidemiology of breast cancer in Baghdad City for the year of 2018.Methodology: A descriptive design is employed throughout the present study. All registered women with breast cancer are included in the sample of the study. Data are obtained from Iraqi Cancer Board, Iraqi Cancer Registry for the year of 2018. Descriptive statistics is applied for the data analysis of frequency and percent and measurement of the incidence rate of the disease.Results: the study findings revealed that The most common kind of cancer is breast cancer in Baghdad City (22.2%) with a highest incidence rate among Baghdad City’s population at the year of 2018, (20.52). Among Iraqi females, the most prevalent type of cancer is breast form in Baghdad City in 2018, (37.26%), especially at age group of (46-55) (34.79%).Conclusion: The findings of the study show among Iraqi women, there has been a rise in the incidence rate of breast cancer in Baghdad City in 2018, among the age group of (46-55), and Rissaffa District has the highest incidence rate of its population from the other districts in Baghdad City.Recommendations: Prevention measures must be undertaken, and awareness campaigns must be organized to emphasize the need of early identification and treatment. Women aged 40 to 44 should be able to start yearly mammogram (breast x-ray) screening for breast cancer if they choose. Women between the ages of 45 and 54 should have mammograms once a year. Mammograms should be performed every two years rather than annually for women over the age of 55.

Correlation of the Interlukein-8 with Breast Cancer Patients in Iraqi Woman’s

Almost one-third of all female malignancies recorded in Iraq's most recent Iraqi Cancer Registry are breast cancers, making it the most common kind among women. With an anticipated 9.6 million deaths due to cancer in 2018, it is the second largest cause of death worldwide. One out of every six people who die in the world does so as a result of cancer. In low- and middle-income nations, cancer kills more than 70 percent of the population. Methods: This study include 49 samples patients and 40 samples (control group) which collection by draw of blood by gel tube and also the specimens were used centrifuge to get serum to measuring the interlukein-8 level by ELISA technique to both groups (patients, control). Results: measured IL-8 levels by ELISA technique and the results were referred to raise in IL-8 levels of BC females for serum samples compared with control group (healthy women). The cutoff value of serum IL-8 was >26.73 with good sensitivity, specificity and accuracy level respectively (73.47 %, 75 % and 72.0 %). The serum level of IL-8 was significantly higher in breast cancer group in comparison with control group, 36.69 (27.39) fold change versus 20.55 (13.83) fold change, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study has found that the investigated interlukein-8 levels were associated with moderate to high grade carcinoma, this study may clarify that IL-8 along very important predictive and diagnostic marker for breast cancer and treatment responsiveness.

Review on Breast Cancer in Iraq Women

breast cancer" which is common type of carcinogenesis in females, surpassing even bronchogenic cancer "accounting for approximately one-third of the registered female cancers according to the latest Iraqi Cancer Registry". According to "World Health Organization", that discovery as well as examination early, particularly in combination together with sufficient therapy, present the appropriate method which decrease in the mortality rate for "breast cancer". Rate of "breast cancer" rise in Iraq, a source of a significant health problem. Labors are necessary on the nationalist scale and establishing comprehensive breast cancer control programs in Iraq for better estimate of the problem

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A retrospective study of clinical and pathological features

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), is one of the myeloproliferative disorders with a characteristic cytogenetic abnormality resulting in the BCR-ABL fusion gene. Imatinib Mesylate is an effective agent for treating patients in all stages of CML. According to the annual Iraqi cancer registry 2019, the total number of chronic myeloproliferative disorders was 338. The percentage and incidence rates were 0.94% and 0.86%, respectively, with a higher incidence rate in males than females (1.12 in males and 0.60 in females). In this registry, no details about CML, so this study aimed to estimate the number of CML patients who attended the national center of hematology from 2005 until 2020 and investigate their epidemiological and clinic-pathological data. All data were obtained from the National Center of Hematology /Baghdad. Data regarding annual admission, number of deaths, and information about age, regions, and sex, were collected from patient cards. Interview and history taking from the patient and reviewing their clinical features at diagnosis were performed, and then statistical analysis was achieved. Two hundred sixteen patients were registered as CML; among them, 163 are still alive, while 53 died. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.39 ±14.30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.16. The pediatrics age group comprises 3.7% of total cases and 1.8 % and 9.4% in the alive and dead groups, respectively. The percentages of death were higher in the pediatric age group, 62,5%( 5 /8), followed by the patient group who were ≥60 years, 42.1%(8/19), while it was the least in adults < 60 years, 21.1% (40/189). In conclusion, the studied patients with CML were younger than the globally reported ages at diagnosis, with predominant female patients. Females had better survival, while children and the elderly were the worse. Most patients were symptomatic at diagnosis; however, a good outcome is achieved when treated with IM. Keywords: CML, Imatinib, leukemia,

Cancers in Iraq: Half century overview

Malignancies have been increasingly regarded as one of the main challenges to healthcare systems throughout the world. Malignant diseases were reported by the World Health Organization to be the second leading cause of death throughout the world accounting for about sixth of all deaths during the year 2018. There has been increasing interest in the historic patterns of malignant disease which can help in establishing understanding of the possible changes of pattern of cancer. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the pattern of malignancy in Iraq during the previous half century. The top five cancers reported in Iraq during ten-year period (1976-1985) were different from the top cancers throughout the world as reported by the World Health Organization during the previous years. The pattern of malignant disease in Iraq during the years 2000 to 2004 was rather different from the pattern of malignancies in other countries like United States of America. The incidence rate of new cases of malignancies were increasing during the previous decades as it was 38.91/100,000 population in 1994, 52.8\100,000 in 2006, and 82.62/100,000 population in 2018. The pattern of cancers in Iraq was not very similar to the latest global pattern reported by the World Health Organization. In addition, the pattern of childhood cancers in Iraq witnessed some changes during the previous decades.

Cancers in Iraq: Half century overview

Malignancies have been increasingly regarded as one of the main challenges to healthcare systems throughout the world. Malignant diseases were reported by the World Health Organization to be the second leading cause of death throughout the world accounting for about sixth of all deaths during the year 2018. There has been increasing interest in the historic patterns of malignant disease which can help in establishing understanding of the possible changes of pattern of cancer. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the pattern of malignancy in Iraq during the previous half century. The top five cancers reported in Iraq during ten-year period (1976-1985) were different from the top cancers throughout the world as reported by the World Health Organization during the previous years. The pattern of malignant disease in Iraq during the years 2000 to 2004 was rather different from the pattern of malignancies in other countries like United States of America. The incidence rate of new cases of malignancies were increasing during the previous decades as it was 38.91/100,000 population in 1994, 52.8\100,000 in 2006, and 82.62/100,000 population in 2018. The pattern of cancers in Iraq was not very similar to the latest global pattern reported by the World Health Organization. In addition, the pattern of childhood cancers in Iraq witnessed some changes during the previous decades.

Cancers in Iraq: Half century overview

Cancers in Iraq: Half century overview

Trends in colorectal cancer in Iraq over two decades: incidence, mortality, topography and morphology.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is mainly a disease of the elderly in the Western world, but its characteristics are changing globally. Iraq does not have a well established CRC screening program. Understanding trends of CRC incidence, fatality and the clinical features of CRC patients is vital to the design of effective public health measures; public awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment strategies to meet the future demands.OBJECTIVES: Determine trends in demography, incidence proportion, mortality, topography (primary tumor site) and morphology (histology) over two decades.DESIGN: Registry-based studySETTING: Iraqi National Cancer Registry (INCR) databasePATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected and analyzed data from CRC patients obtained from the INCR to calculate incidence and mortality proportion per 100 000 population for the period from 2000 to 2019. In addition to estimation, data were examined by anatomic location and morphological type.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in the incidence and mortality proportion, topography and morphology of CRC over 20 years.SAMPLE SIZE: 20 880 CRC patients ranging in age from 14-80 years.RESULTS: The overall (males and females) CRC incidence proportion (CIP) increased from 2.28 to 6.18 per 100 000 population in 2000 and 2019, respectively, with an annual percentage change (APC) of 5.11%. The incidence proportion (IP) of CRC in patients from 20 to <50 years rose from 1.46 in 2000 to 4.36 per 100 000 population in 2019, which is an APC of 5.6%. The IP in patients older than 50 years rose from 12.7 to 40.59 per 100 000 population in 2000 and 2019, respectively, with an APC of 5.98%. The percentage of all CRC cases to all total malignancies in Iraq grew from 3.69% in 2000 to 6.5% in 2019. The CRC mortality proportion increased from 1.25 to 1.77 per 100 000 populations in 2010 and 2019, respectively, reflecting an APC of 3.54%. Anatomically, colon (C18) tumor represented 59.2% and 65.7% in 2000 and 2019, respectively. Rectal (C20) tumors were 37.2% in 2000 down to 31.4% in 2019, while rectosigmoid junction tumor (C19) were 3.6% in 2000 dropping to 2% in 2019.CONCLUSIONS: CRC in Iraq is still a disease of the elderly and is rising in incidence and mortality in all age groups. This necessitates reconsidering health policy regarding CRC; public awareness, screening and management strategies to accommodate for these alarming changes.LIMITATIONS: Data about stages, grades and molecular characterisations are not available in the INCR.CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Measuring The Level of MIR-148A in Iraqi Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Iraq, and the incidence of it has increased among Iraqi women in the past two decades, as it represents one of the most important threats to women's health. Aim: this study aimed to investigate the miR-148a gene expression as a biomarker in different age groups of Iraqi women with breast cancer, as well as its association with patient characteristics such as body mass index, disease stage, and tumor location. Method: Fifty women diagnosed with breast cancer were enrolled in this study in addition to 25 healthy individuals as a control group. The fold expression (FE) of miRNA-148a was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques. Results: The results showed the highest significant difference in the gene expression of miR-148a in breast cancer patients in the age group (50) compared to the control group, and the difference was significant in the age group (&lt;40) compared to the control group, highly significant differences was found in the age group (40-49) compared with the control group. The results also showed no significant differences in the fold level of gene expression for miR-148a in the grades (I, II, and III) of breast cancer patients, and that the highest level was recorded in the second grade, and the highest level was recorded in the grade. Keywords: Breast Cancer, miR-148a, BMI

Clinical and Histopathological Features of Ovarian Cancer in Iraq, Baghdad Between 2014-2020

Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease with disparities in clinical performance and consequences. It is a cluster of numerous subtypes with diverse biological topographies that cause alterations in response to treatments, relapse rates, and endurance. This task was designed to investigate the epidemiology of the diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer from 2014 to 2020 in Baghdad. A total of 51 cases of different ovarian cancer samples were collected from Al-Elwea Maternity Hospital and Medical City Teaching Hospital, Baghdad. Clinical information including patients' age, tumor size and location, pathological grade and stage were also collected. Results revealed high incidence of OC in patients at age of ˂55 years for the rate 59%. The most common type was epithelial serous ovarian cancer by 52.9% overall, with high frequency at right ovary by 63.3%. The dominant tumor size was 5cm in malignant cases. While the most frequent tumor stage was stage IC with rate of 29.6%, and Grade 3 was the foremost one by 40.7%. Conclusion: The most common type of cancer is epithelial serous ovarian cancer that occur in patients younger than 55years and presented at early stage of disease (IC) with high tumor grade (poor differentiation) at the time of diagnosis

Relationship between cellular mediators (IL-1β, IFN–γ, MMP-9) in Iraqi women with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Iraq. The incidence of breast cancer has increased among Iraqi women in the past two decades, as it represents one of the main threats to women's health. This steady aimed To evaluate the level of some immune factors Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interferon- γ (IFN–γ), and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and find the relationship between these immune factors in Iraqi women diagnosed with breast cancer. Material and method Fifty women diagnosed with breast cancer were enrolled in this study in addition to 25 healthy individuals as a control group. Level (IL-1β, IFN-γ, MMP-9) was measured using ELISA technology. Conclusion The expression level of (IL-1β, IFN-γ, MMP-9) increased in women with breast cancer in different age groups, but the age group (40-49) also recorded the highest expression of these cellular mediators. Regarding the relationship of (MMP-9), it was not significant with (IL-1β), but it was significant with (IFN-γ) (p≤0.05), and about the relationship between (IL-1β) and (IFN-γ) it was no significant negatively, that Increased level of (IL-1β, IFN-γ, MMP-9) expression could be a predictive marker of breast cancer.

Determine the most important factors affecting breast cancer in Iraq

Today cancer is one of the diseases leading to death in the world in general and in the Middle East in particular, according to the reports of the World Health Organization. In spite of this, early detection through the availability of the necessary data on the disease in patients and the variety of variables studied helps in the large percentage of treatment, and that Increasing awareness among members of the Iraqi community, especially women, about breast cancer, proves its ability to recover from this disease through early and periodic examination and self-examination, and it was found that the number of injuries in terms of ages was for the second category (70-40), and this indicates that menstruation or what is known as the stage of hope is the stage that females must do early and periodic examination of this disease, and that the diagnosis of the disease was a clinical test or tissue culture, and therefore it was recommended to spread awareness for early and self-examination to detect the disease early and this greatly helps for treatment, with changing the data registration form for this type of disease to include more important variables, especially the genetic factor variable.

IL-4 Serum Level Estimation in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients

Back Ground: Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a long-term blood disease that has an excess production of mature hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow. In the early fifties, W. Dameshek structured the Myeloproliferative disorders that are at present the World Health Organization (WHO) changed it to Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs). According to the Iraqi cancer registry, Chronic Myeloproliferative disorders in the male is 0.62% and the incidence rate is 0.36, in female Chronic Myeloproliferative disorders (45 case) is 0.31% and the incidence rate is 0.24. The JAK2-V617F genetic mutation is approximately seventy percent of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm cases. Interleukin-4 plasma and serum levels are significantly increased in MPNs different types. &#x0D; Objectives: The goal of this study is to estimate the IL-4 serum levels in the JAK2-V617F negative and positive mutation in the Iraqi MPNs patients.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Total of (60) patients screened by cohort prospective study of having MPN who are patients presented to the National Center of Hematology / Al-Mustansiriyah University. Depending on the JAK2-V617F genetic mutation we classified our MPNs cases into 3 groups: JAK2-V617F negative (N: 20), JAK2-V617F positive (N: 40) and control group (10). Blood sample (5) ml was obtained from each individual in each group, by venipuncture using disposable syringes for IL-4 serum estimation by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. &#x0D; Results: A clear indication of significant differences was observed between IL-4 serum level in JAK2-V617F negative samples and control samples (P &lt; 0.05). &#x0D; Conclusion: The IL-4 serum level is high in MPNs patients, which is one of the immune evading mechanisms of the cancerous acting to imbalance the Th1/Th2 ratio and enhancing the anti-apoptotic activity inside those cells.

Association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin -35 for detection and prediction of women with breast cancer in Erbil city

Association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin -35 for detection and prediction of women with breast cancer in Erbil city

Immunohistochemical and Electron Microscopy Evolution in the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Iraq.

Lung cancer is considered themost commonly diagnosed cancer that kills over 1.76 million people yearlyaround the world. This study aimed to investigate how electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC)worked together. In the current study, a total of50 tissue blocks were used which wereembedded in paraffin wax from 20 healthy controls and30 lung cancer patients (19 males and 11 females) to conduct a histopathological examination, which included hematoxylin and eosin stain, IHC detection regarding theprotein expression in P53, and EM for lung cancer diagnosis. The findings indicated that the mean age of thepatients was 51.84±15.70 years, and there was no correlation between the age of patients and the disease stage. P53 expression was measured using an immunohistochemical technique, while thepositive rate showed a highly significant difference between healthy controls and patients(PP≤0.05). The association of P53 expression with age and gender was not significant, although it showed a significant correlation with stage and grade. Furthermore, a correlation was found between P53 IHC and EM (P≤0.05). In conclusion, the detection of an immunohistochemical method of lung cancer patients has been (gold standard) useful in detecting the subsets of patients in addition to a good method of EM in the diagnosis of lung cancer patients.

A review on breast cancer in Iraq and future therapies insights

Cancer is one of the most common diseases around the world and the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type among Iraqi women, as it represents the highest percentage of malignant tumors in women until 2018. Therefore, women should be aware of the aggravation of this disease, the importance of the periodic examination for early detection for breast cancer, and following the most appropriate means for the treatment to get recovered and, thus, to reduce mortality. To fight cancer, there is an urgent need to search for new effective anticancer therapies that alter the molecular biology of tumor cells, stimulate the immune system, or specifically deliver chemotherapy factors directly to cancer cells without affecting normal cells and reducing the side effects of treatments. In this context, this paper aimed to highlight the therapeutic approaches used in the current researches of breast cancer treatment. Accumulated evidence showed that medicinal plants extracts, virotherapies, and nanomaterials can serve as anticancer agents. The proposed mechanisms were discussed and presented in this review.

The Immunohistochemically Estimation of CD63 in Iraqi Patients with Gastric Cancer

CD63 is -one of the tetraspanin family proteins, which are regarded as: hallmark exosomal markers because it is absent from other types of vesicles. It is expressed in the cell membrane of cancer cells, and cytoplasm of stromal cells. Objective: To assess CD63 expression in gastric cancer (GC) patients, and detected if it could be used as a predictive marker. Furthermore, the current study aimed to find the correlation between CD63 expression and clinicopathological parameters as: gender, age, invasion depth, histopathological type, involvement of lymph nodes, grade and stages of GC (TNM). The current study is a retrospective study in the period time from (2018 to-2020); 50 randomly patients formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks (FFPE) of stomach tissue (10 cases normal tissue without GC as control, and 40 patients with GC) with its reports and diagnosis were collected from Pathology Department of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Teaching Hospital and some private hospitals. The histological sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&amp;E), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) stain for CD63. Statistical analysis accomplished by SPSS system at (P ≤ 0.05). This study indicated that there were significant differences between control group, and patients group in the expression of CD63, also there was a significant correlation between CD63 expression, and histopathological subtype, invasion depth, involvement of lymph node, and stages in patients, whereas there was a non- significant association between the age, grade, and gender of patients, and the expression of CD63.This result indicates that CD63 could be a good prospective marker in Iraqi cancer patients.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF CERVICAL CANCER INCIDENCE IN IRAQ DURING 2010-2015

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Iraq. This study aimed to examine the spatial pattern and high-risk clusters of cervical cancer in different areas of Iraq (except the Kurdish region) during the period 2010-2015. The age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs), age-specific incidence rates (ASIRs), and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated for 2010–2015. We used three techniques of spatial statistical analysis which are Global spatial autocorrelation, Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, and Anselin Local Moran’s statistic to investigate spatial clustering and outliers. Over the period 2000-2015, 1037 cases were diagnosed with AAIR of incidence of (3.521 per 100,000). Depending on AAIRs, we found cervical cancer incidence was highest (8.212 per 100,000) in the age group of 60-69 years old. The APC of cervical cancer age-specific rates has significantly risen for the age groups 60-69 only. We identified spatial high-risk clusters for incidence. The cluster was mainly located in the center of Iraq (Baghdad, Najaf, Kerbala, and Babil provinces), the central-eastern part of Iraq (Diyala province), and the southern part of Iraq (Basrah province). While the provinces in the northern and northeastern parts of Iraq, as well as the western province, had relatively lower AAIRs from cervical cancer. A spatial cluster pattern for the incidence of cervical cancer in Iraq was revealed, which will be valuable for improving the allocation of health resources in Iraq.

Trends in Breast Cancer Incidence in Iraq During the Period 2000-2019.

Background:Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women around the world. Objective:This study aims to explore the time trends in the incidence of breast cancer in Iraq in twenty years period (2000 to 2019) to assist health officials and decision-makers in planning and organizing programs to controlling breast cancer growth and enhance women’s health. Methods: Breast cancer data from 2000 to 2019 were obtained from the Iraqi Cancer Registry’s yearly book series (Ministry of Health). The United Nations Population Division provides annual population estimates by 5-year age groups and gender. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate and assess age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates. Results:A total of 72,022 breast cancer cases were identified among women in Iraq between 2000 and 2019. The average age-standardized incidence rate (ASIRs) was 37.883/100,000. Breast cancer ASIR Iraq exhibited a significantly rising trend during the study period, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of +3.192%. Furthermore, a significant increase in breast cancer incidence for the age group 40–49 (AAPC = +2.162%), 50–59 (AAPC=+3.210%), 60–69 (AAPC=+5.551%), and age 70 and over (AAPC=+7.943%) were observed. When compared to other countries in the world, Iraq had a moderate rate of breast cancer ASIR. Conclusions:In summary, our finding revealed an increase in the incidence rates of breast cancer among Iraqi women from 2000 to 2019. Further research is needed to explore risk factors including levels of overweight, dietary changes, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, high marriage age, and low birth rates to prevent and control breast cancer.

The psychological health of patients diagnosed with cancer in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic: A single center study.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the psychological health status of patients diagnosed with cancer in Iraq during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study aim was to measure the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients diagnosed with cancer. Secondary aims were to assess the association between depression, anxiety, and stress with sociodemographic characteristics, cancer‐specific characteristics, patients' experience in healthcare visit, risk perception towards COVID‐19, and health concern during the outbreak.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted between September 1, 2020 and December 1, 2020 at an Oncology clinic in Baghdad. Included in the study were two hundred patients diagnosed with cancer. Data collected included: demographic variables (age, gender, residential location, marital status, education, employment status), clinical characteristics and cancer‐specific parameters (duration since cancer diagnosis, cancer type, treatment duration, clinic visits frequency), experience during the pandemic (skipping or postponing treatment or periodical tests, suffering from new body pain, fear of acquiring the infection, fear of health deterioration), as well as psychological health status (depression, anxiety, stress). Pain, risk perception towards COVID‐19, and health concern were measured using categorical Likert scale with responses being no, sometimes, and often. The psychological health status was measured by the “Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale” (DASS‐21). Cut‐off scores of the DASS‐21 greater than 9, 7, and 14 represent a positive screen of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of patients who screened positive for depression was 22.0%, anxiety 22.0%, and stress 13.5%. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were significantly more in those who had university or higher education (34.3%, p‐value <0.0001; 32.3%, p‐value <0.0001; 19.2%, p‐value = 0.02 respectively). Those were four times more likely to have depression and two times more likely to have anxiety than participants who had school education (OR = 4.40 CI [1.98–9.77], p‐value <0.0001; OR = 2.55 CI [1.15–5.65], p‐value = 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of anxiety was significantly the highest in the age group 16–39 years (40.9%) compared to 22.3% in the age group 40–64 years and 10.3% in the group ≥65 years (p‐value = 0.02). Patients ≥65 years of age were less likely to develop anxiety compared to younger patients (OR = 0.44 CI [0.22–0.89], p‐value = 0.02). As for the patients' experience in healthcare visit, 66 patients (33.0%) skipped or postponed their treatment or tests due to the outbreak. Around (8%) sometimes suffered from new body pain. Those who sometimes suffered from new body pain had significantly more depression than patients who did not suffer new pain or often had new pain (50.0% vs. 15.0% vs. 28.1% respectively, p‐value = 0.002). Those were two times more likely to be depressed (OR = 2.18 CI [1.29–3.68], p‐value = 0.003). Around (50%) of the patients were often afraid that their health would deteriorate during the outbreak. Those were significantly more depressed (31.7%, p‐value = 0.002), anxious (30.7%, p‐value <0.0001) and stressed (21.8%, p‐value = 0.002) than those who did not have fear of losing their health and were two times more likely to have anxiety and stress.ConclusionThese findings, especially the association between developing new pain and depression, raised concerns regarding the psychological health in patients diagnosed with cancer during COVID‐19 pandemic. It is crucial to implement psychological health screening for patients diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic to help prevent any psychological health problems. The DASS‐21 could be used as a screening tool for distress in these patients.