Epidemiology of cancers in Lahore, Pakistan, among children, adolescents and adults, 2010–2012: a cross-sectional study part 2

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cancer incidence by age group for the Lahore district population within the Punjab Cancer Registry (PCR), Pakistan. The average annual population of Lahore was 9.8 million in 2010–2012. This is a sequel to a study published earlier. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: The registry has 19 centres in Lahore reporting their data to the coordinating office located within the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), Lahore, Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: Data existing in the PCR database, based on a confirmed diagnosis of cancer from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012, among the Lahore residents, were reviewed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cancer counts and the age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) per 100 000 population were computed by gender, cancer site/type and age group (0–14, 15–19 and ≥20 years). RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2012, of the 15 840 new cancers diagnosed, 57% were in females. The ASIRs in age groups 0–14, 15–19 and ≥20 years, among females, were: 6.1, 8.4 and 170.7, respectively, and among males, 9.3, 12.2 and 104.5, respectively. The common diagnoses in children, adolescents and adults were: (1) among females: leukaemia: 2.2; bone tumour: 1.4 and breast cancer: 79.2, respectively, and (2) among males: leukaemia: 3.6; bone tumour: 2.4 and prostate cancer: 10.7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ASIR was higher in adult women than in men, but it was lower in girls and young women than their corresponding male counterparts. Leukaemia was the most common diagnosis in children and bone tumour in adolescents, regardless of gender. Among women, breast cancer and, in men, prostate cancer, were the leading cancer types, in adults. These estimates could be used for the expansion of health coverage in the region including setting-up low cost, diagnostic tests for early detection of cancers.