[Incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)]. / Incidence et mortalité des cancers gynécologiques en Guadeloupe.

The principal gynaecological cancers (breast, ovary, uterus, and cervix) account for over 40% of cancers found in women worldwide. However, large differences exist, in both their incidence and geographical distribution. The French West Indies, through their location, environment, socio-economic development, lifestyle, nutrition and the origins of their populations, constitute territories with a very particular character in the heart of the Caribbean. These characteristics have an impact on public health and can affect the incidence of tumours. We report for the first time the incidence of these major gynaecological cancers in Guadeloupe. Breast, ovary and uterine cancers have lower incidences in Guadeloupe than in mainland France. By contrast, cervical cancer is more frequent in Guadeloupe than in mainland France. The mortality rates associated with breast cancer, ovary and uterine cancer are also lower in Guadeloupe than in mainland France, whereas the opposite pattern is observed for cervical cancer. These observations may be accounted for in part by a difference in the prevalence of established or suspected risk factors for each of these types of cancer.