RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is a common and lethal disease throughout the world. In Iran with 7300 new cases annually, it is the first cause of cancer related death in both sexes. Regarding the high incidence (10.5/100000 individuals) of gastric cancer and priority of prevalence index in cancer management, in this study we tried to determine 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year point prevalence of the disease according to survival data. METHOD: Survival and incidence data were used for determination of cancer prevalence. Incidence data were extracted from cancer registry in Iran and survival data were determined in a descriptive study by following up 3439 gastric cancer patients in Cancer Research Center (CRC). 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year prevalence was estimated from incidence rates in different years and the proportion of patients surviving 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years from the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: patients with survival of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years from the time of diagnosis were 46.38%, 26 %, 19.36%, 15.47% and 12.8% respectively. The prevalence of 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year was 3392, 3118and 1824 respectively. The cumulative 5 year prevalence was 8334 cases. CONCLUSION: These estimates of the point prevalence of gastric cancer at 1, 2-3 and 4-5 years are applicable to the evaluation of initial treatment, clinical follow-up, and point of cure. Therefore 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year point prevalence estimates, are necessary in health service planning for gastric cancer management and should be considered by public health managers.