Cancer in the Caribbean and environs. A comparison of age-standardized rates for 9 population groups

Age-standardized rates for cancer in Kingston & St. Andrew, Jamaica are presented by site and sex, and compared with data from Registries in the Caribbean and adjacent regions. These comprise Costa Rica, Cuba, Cali (Colombia), Martinique, the Netherlands Antilles (excluding Aruba), New Orleans (Whites and Blacks) and Puerto Rico. There are significant differences which demand explanation. Overall, the reported rates are highest in New Orleans, which leads in breast cancer, tumours of bronchus, larynx, colon, rectum, pancreas, prostate and bladder. Lymphomas occur most frequently in Whites in New Orleans while Blacks in that city show similar rates to other Registries in the area. Cali (Colombia) and Costa Rica lead in cervical cancer, with Jamaica third. The lowest figure is for Whites in New Orleans. Cali (Colombia) and Costa Rica also have very high rates for gastric cancer, and low rates for colonic. Oesophageal cancer is highest in Blacks in New Orleans, followed by Martinique and the Netherlands Antilles. Jamaica has shown a steady decline for this site over 30 years. The rate in Whites in New Orleans is only one-fourth of that in Blacks.