Incidence, mortality and survival from prostate cancer in Cuba, 1977-1999

Prostate cancer is currently one of the most common malignancies in Cuba, as worldwide. The present article analyses the burden of prostate cancer in Cuba. Cancer incidence, survival and mortality rates by province and age group were obtained from the National Cancer Registry and Mortality System from 1977 to 1999. The incidence of prostate cancer has been rapidly increasing in the last 10 years. In 1999 an incidence rate of 34.9 per 100,000 men was observed. Prostate cancer mortality is surpassed only by mortality due to lung cancer. An increase with successive diagnostic periods can be seen in all age groups. Geographical variations in the distribution of incidence and mortality rates in the country were also detected, with no major change in the diagnostic procedures. Our data suggest that the increased prostate cancer incidence represents a real increase in the number of patients with clinical disease.