Cancer Control Priorities and Challenges in Saudi Arabia: A Preliminary projection of Cancer Burden

Saudi Arabia faces a rapid growth in cancer cases and deaths despite the rapid development and expansion of its healthcare system. No applied national strategies exist, limiting cancer control efforts. Saudi Cancer Registry data lacks cancer specific mortality rates and available data to project the future cancer burden is inadequate.

This review paper examines the extent which cancer burden will increase by providing an estimate projection of cancer cases and deaths for the year 2025 and 2050. Current cancer burden and gaps are discussed. Saudi population projections were used to predict the burden of cancer types with the highest mortality. Rough estimates of the burden were calculated using incidence and mortality rates adopted from available UK cancer data and population figures from Office for National Statistics.

For most common cancers in Saudi Arabia, it is expected that the number of new cancer cases will reach 151,719 by the year 2025 and 30,718 cancer deaths are expected for the same year. Evidence from other countries' efforts to control cancer demonstrates reduced mortality and points out the substantial need to urgently update cancer control strategy.

Reviewing current trends in cancer burden in Saudi Arabia and projecting the future burden, especially of breast and colon cancers, proves the need to prioritize cancer control efforts. Planning a multidisciplinary evidence based national cancer control strategy will alleviate the burden and improve cancer outcomes.