Epidemiology of breast cancer in Setif, Algeria


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Z. Zaidi1, F. Babouche2, D. Abdellouche3, A. Djema Djazia4, M. Abdoun1, M. Hamdi Cherif1
1Cancer registry of Setif- University Hospital of Setif, Setif, Algeria,2Private Office of Radiology, Health Direction of Setif, Setif, Algeria,3Department of Anatomopathology-University Hospital of Setif, Setif, Algeria,4Constantine Anti-cancer Center - University Hospital of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It was estimated that 514'000 incidents cases occurred in developing countries during 2002. Breast cancer is also the most important cause of neoplasic deaths in women; the estimated number of deaths in 2002 was 410'000 worldwide.

In Algeria, in 2002 breast cancer was the most common cancer in general and in the female population with 4541 cases and represents 29.5% of all cancer sites.

Our study aimed for adjusting breast cancer incidence trends over the longest period available 1986-2005 in Setif for the effect of age, sex, and period of diagnosis and the geographical distribution. These data are compared with standardized rates of Cancer Registries in five continents.

Method

Incidence data were collected in 1986-2005 from the Setif population-based cancer registry, using software Can Reg 4 from the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC, France. Cancer morphology and topography are coded in accordance of the international classification of diseases for oncology manual (ICD-O3rd edition).

Results

Breast cancer ranked first among female population. Incidence was highest among women

30-55 age group (58 %), the median age at diagnosis was 54-59 years.

               1986-1989       1993-1997       2001-2005

Cases         187                  317                  391

%              10, 3                 22, 2                  22, 5

ASR          10. 4                 17, 0                 19, 6      

Age-adjusted incidence rate increased in this two decades from 10.4 per 100,000 women in 1986-1989 to 19, 6 per 100.000 women in 2001-2005.

Conclusion

Breast cancer is an important public health problem in Algeria. It is the most common cancer, representing 22.5% of all cancer sites reported in Setif cancer registry, more than 50% of new cases are young women <40 years. It represents the first cause of mortality of women in Algeria, with 7000 deaths each year. The results suggest that early detection should become a priority in Algeria.