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. 2020 Dec;10(4):258-262.
doi: 10.2991/jegh.k.200515.001. Epub 2020 May 22.

The Increasing Trends in Cases of the Most Common Cancers in Saudi Arabia

Eman Chaudhri  1 , Weam Fathi  2 , Fazal Hussain  3 , Shahrukh K Hashmi  3   4
Affiliations

The Increasing Trends in Cases of the Most Common Cancers in Saudi Arabia

Eman Chaudhri et al. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Cancer epidemiology in Saudi Arabia (SA) differs from that of the USA with respect to types of common malignancies. Hematologic malignancies are among the top five cancers prevalent in SA, including lymphoma and leukemia. Most common malignancies in SA also include breast, thyroid, and colorectal cancer. We sought to evaluate the current trends of these most common cancers in SA.

Methods: Electronic search analysis pertaining to Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, breast, colorectal, and thyroid cancer were carried out from two databases: The Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Data on prevalence and incident frequency were collected. Trends from 2001 to 2014 were calculated and compared between SCR and SEER.

Findings: Leukemia is the most common cancer type among males in SA, followed by colorectal cancer. Hodgkin's lymphoma has become the third most common malignancy among Saudi males. Percentage of women's breast cancer and thyroid cancer among total cancer cases have increased by 10.5% and 1.7% respectively from 2001 to 2014, making them the first and second most common cancers in women respectively. Trends of thyroid cancer among males has been stable. Colorectal cancer stands as third most common among Saudi females.

Interpretations: There have been significant changes in trends of incidence rate of the most common cancers in SA among both males and females over the past decade. Breast cancer rates have risen at an alarming pace. More epidemiological studies need to be conducted to evaluate etiological factors at environmental, molecular, and genetic levels.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Hodgkin lymphoma; adenocarcinoma; colorectal cancer; consanguinity; leukemia; papillary carcinoma; prostate cancer; radiation; thyroid cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends of colorectal cancer cases among total cancer cases in SA in both genders between 2001 and 2014 according to SCR data
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends of breast cancer cases among total cancer cases in females in SA between 2001 and 2014 according to SCR data
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trends of thyroid cancer cases among total cancer cases in both genders in SA between 2001 and 2014 according to SCR data
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trends of leukemia cases among total cancer cases in both genders in SA between 2001 and 2014 according to SCR data
Figure 5
Figure 5
Trends of Hodgkin lymphoma cases among total cancer cases in both genders in SA between 2001 and 2014 according to SCR data
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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