Cancer incidence in Yemen from 1997 to 2011: a report from the Aden cancer registry

This study aims to report on the trend and incidence of cancers in Yemen (Aden) using data from Aden Cancer Registry (ACR), as a population-based cancer registry in Yemen over a period of 15 years (1997-2011). Such comprehensive, valid and detailed information on cancer trend is badly needed for planning a cancer control program in the country.

All cancer cases were abstracted from patients' medical records - based on clinical, histopathology, and radiological diagnosis. Data were coded using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) and the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC-3) to code childhood tumors. The CanReg4 program was used to analyze the data for 15 years study period.

A total of 6974 cases were included in this study, 47% were males and 53% females. The overall annual incidence rate was 21.6/100,000 populations; however, the incidence in males was little lower than in females (20.0 and 22.9 per 100,000 populations, respectively). The top five cancers among males were leukaemia (10.5%), nonhodgkin lymphoma [(NHL), 10.1%], colon (7.5%), Hodgkin diseases [(HD), 6.1%] and stomach cancer (5.1%). For females, breast cancer was the top (30.0%), followed by leukaemia (7.6%), NHL (6.6%), colonic (4.9%) and ovarian cancer (4.5%).

Our findings reveal that, there is urgent need to commence the early screening of breast cancer due to its high frequency among Yemeni women. The government should give more support for cancer registries in the country to sustain its vital contribution to cancer care.