Incidence of cancer in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Abstract

Background/aim: This study analyzed the incidence, trends, and common types of cancer in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Materials and methods: This study is based on data collected from the office of the North Cyprus Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, for 2007-2012. Data were arranged on the basis of age group, sex, and cancer site. Age standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were estimated with the world standard population. EVIEWS (version 9) software was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Of 1395 registered cases, 52.33% (730) were reported in men and 47.67% (665) in women. The crude incidence rate was 96.41 in men and 101.74 in women. The average annual ASR was 88.88 in men and 87.76 in women with the cumulative rate of 21.47% and 14.69% in men and women, respectively. The most common cancers in men were skin (ASR 15.62), prostate (ASR 11.23), bladder (ASR 11.71), lung (ASR 8.01), and colorectal cancer (ASR 7.61), while in women these were breast (ASR 24.07), thyroid (ASR 14.93), skin (ASR 10.75), colorectal (ASR 6.05), and lymphoma (ASR 4.79). Linear regression analysis confirmed rising trends for both men's (10.79, P ≤ 0.03) and women's (14.67, P ≤ 0.04) cancers.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed an increasing trend of cancer incidence in the TRNC. For control and prevention, public awareness of the risk factors and proper screening programs should be recommended.