The epidemiology of cancer in Chile

Despite the fact that cancer is underreported in most of Latin America, available data suggest that it is a major cause of death throughout the area. The most frequent sites among males are the stomach, lung, and prostate; among females, the cervix, stomach, and breast are affected most often. Only Cuba has a nationwide registry; Brazil, Colombia, and Peru have registries limited to areas. Within this context, Chile ranks second in the world in age-adjusted mortality rates from stomach cancer. Other leading sites are the lung, cervix, and breast. Stomach cancer exhibits high- and low-risk areas in Chile, with distinct epidemiologic characteristics. A case-control and nitrate ecology study funded by the United States National Cancer Institute is underway, and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency is launching a 3-year mass screening program.