Cancer Risk in Nepal: An Analysis from Population-Based Cancer Registry of Urban, Suburban, and Rural Regions

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cancer represents a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Nepal, like many LMICs, lacks comprehensive national cancer control and prevention strategies.
• The Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) established a population-based cancer registry (PBCR) in 2018 to gather regional data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and report on the incidence and mortality rates of cancer in Nepal.
• To identify the most prevalent cancer types and associated risks within the Nepalese population.
• To provide evidence for developing targeted cancer control interventions.

Main Methods:

• Data collection utilized indirect and direct methods from health facilities and communities via the NHRC's PBCR.
• Incidence and mortality data from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, were analyzed.
• The International Association of Cancer Registry guidelines were followed for data quality control and verification.

Main Results:

• The age-adjusted incidence rate (AAR) was 65.6 per 100,000, and the mortality rate was 29 per 100,000 in Nepal.
• Before age 75, 1 in 14 men and 1 in 13 women were at risk of developing cancer; 1 in 28 men and 1 in 33 women were at risk of dying from cancer.
• Lung cancer was most common in men (1 in 80), while breast cancer was most common in women (1 in 76), followed by lung and cervical cancers.

Conclusions:

• Cancer is a growing public health concern in Nepal.
• Prioritizing cost-effective screening, public awareness campaigns, and HPV vaccination is crucial.
• Revising treatment protocols for high-mortality cancers is essential to reduce preventable deaths.