A ten-year profile of cancer in Guyana from 2003–2012

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Only one cancer report (2000–2004) on Guyana has ever been published. We sought to establish the profile of cancers in Guyana to assist policy-makers indeveloping a comprehensive cancer programme. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from 2003–2012 from the population-based Guyana Cancer Registry were analysed. Frequencies were determined for each cancer by patient demographics and cancer characteristics. Incidence and mortality rates were calculated using Guyana’s resident 2002 population. RESULTS: A total of 6518 incident cancers were recorded3956 in females and 2561 in males. Mean age of females was 55.4 years, SD 16.4 and males 62.2 years, SD 18.7 (p< 0.0001). Average annual incidence was 86.8 per 100 000 population (females 105.4, males 68.1), age standardized rate was 139.3 per 100 000 population. In females, the leading sites were breast 1074, cervix uteri 1014 and corpus uteri 325; and in males, prostate 865, colo-rectum 206 and lung 157. By ethnicity, 44.4% of cases were in Afro-Guyanese and 38.4% in Indo-Guyanese. Death occurred in 52.3% (45% of females, 65% of males), for an average annual mortality rate of 48 per 100 000 population(females 47.6 and males 43.4). Lifetime risk of developing cancer was one in eight for females and one in 16 for males. CONCLUSION: Cancers placed a significant burden on the Guyanese population during 2003–2012. Females were affected at a younger age than males. Afro-Guyanese were affected more than other ethnic groups. Significant prevention, treatment and control efforts are required to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cancers.