Leading Causes of Cancer Mortality - Caribbean Region, 2003-2013

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Cancer is a major global health concern, disproportionately affecting less developed regions.
• In the Caribbean, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality, with significant numbers of cancer-related deaths.
• Cancer surveillance systems vary across Caribbean nations, impacting data collection and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate site- and sex-specific cancer death proportions and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) in the Caribbean.
• To identify leading causes of cancer mortality among males and females in the region.
• To highlight the potential for primary and secondary prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mortality data from 2003-2013 for 21 English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries, the US, and two US territories.
• Calculated age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for all cancers combined and site-specific cancers.
• Analyzed sex-specific cancer death proportions.

Main Results:

• ASMR for all cancers combined ranged from 46.1 to 139.3 per 100,000 population.
• Prostate cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in males (18.4%-47.4%), followed by lung cancer (5.6%-24.4%).
• Breast cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in females (14.0%-29.7%), followed by cervical cancer.

Conclusions:

• Leading causes of cancer death in the Caribbean, such as prostate, lung, breast, and cervical cancers, are amenable to prevention and early detection.
• Primary prevention (risk factor reduction) and secondary prevention (screening, early detection, timely treatment) are crucial for reducing cancer mortality.
• Further public health interventions are needed to address the cancer burden in the Caribbean region.