ABSTRACT
Background: Global cancer rates have been increasing primarily due to many reasons: an aging population and lifestyle changes in the developing world were major causes. In 2008, approximately 12.7 million cancers were diagnosed and 7.6 million people died of cancer worldwide. Objectives: To study the epidemiological patterns of the top 10 registered cancers over the years of 1991-2008 in Iraq. To identify the socio-demographic characteristics and determinants of cancers in Iraq and to identify time trends. Results: The study revealed that the number of cancer cases registered was 5720 in Iraq (31.05) per 100,000 in 1991 to 14,180 (44.46) per 100,000 population in 2008. While age incidence of cancer in Iraq increased with age, starting from almost 7 cases per 100,000 population at age below 10 years to 398 cases per 100,000 population at age 70 years old, the top 10 cancer incidence in Iraq was breast cancer followed by lung cancer, leukemia, bladder cancer, brain and CNS, non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, skin cancer excluding melanoma, larynx cancer. Cancer incidence rate significantly increases after 2000 (mean incidence was around 55 cases per 100,000 population) in comparison with the period before 2000 (mean incidence was 40 cases per 100,000 population). The highest age incidence rate is the age of 70 years of (397 per 100,000) followed by 65+ years (327 cases per 100,000 population). Conclusion: Cancer incidence in Iraq is relatively high and trends are up going in terms of quantity and variables related like age sex etc. The figures reflect little increment due to population growth. Prevention and management of cancer are still inadequate. Recommendations: Strengthening the national cancer prevention, cancer therapeutic and cancer registry program to improve cancer related outcomes; addressing effective interventional strategies in terms of risk management, life style promotion and hazardous exposure through establishing national health related multistakholders projects.