Cancer incidence and mortality in Bucaramanga, Colombia. 2008-2012

Introduction: Cancer is a huge burden worldwide, especially for the least developed countries. Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are essential to know the cancer territorial profiles and the evaluation of the impact of their control programs. Aim: To estimate the cancer incidence and mortality in the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga over the period 2008-2012. Methods: A descriptive study of cancer incidence and mortality was conducted in the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga. The cases of primary invasive cancer from the period 2008-2012 were obtained from the base of the Population Registry of Cancer of the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga. The National Administrative Department of Statistics provided population and death data. Crude rates of global and specific incidence and mortality were estimated for each sex, and standardized incidence and mortality rates. Results: During the five-year period, 8,775 incidents cases of cancer were recorded (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). The global standardized incidence rate was 151.7 per 100,000 men-year and 157.2 per 100,000 women-year. The main locations were prostate, stomach and colorectal men in men, and breast, thyroid and colorectal in women. The standardized mortality rate by sex was 94.8 per 100,000 men-year and 78.0 per 100,000 women-year. Conclusion: For the most part of neoplasms, the incidence and mortality rates in the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga are lower than the rates reported in Colombia and Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga in the five-year period 2003-2007, except for colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer and leukemia showing a tendency to increase, which requires further investigation.