Incidencia y mortalidad por cáncer en Medellín, Colombia. 2010-2014

Abstract

Background: This study provides information on cancer incidence and mortality in a Colombian population during 2010-2014, based on the data and methodology of the Population-based Cancer Registry of Antioquia to facilitate the implementation of cancer control strategies. Methods: This is a descriptive study of cancer incidence and mortality in a population, residing in the urban area of the municipality of Medellin. The cancers included in the study are those prioritized in the cancer control plan for Colombia (PDCC-cancers). The collection, processing and systematization of the data were performed in accordance with internationally standardized parameters for population cancer registries. Incidence and mortality rates were calculated by gender, age and tumor location.Results: During 2010-2014 there were 22,379 new cancer cases recorded in the urban area of the municipality of Medellin, of which 43.5% corresponded to the PDCC-cancers. During the same period, 14,922 cancer deaths were reported, 23.5% related to the PDCC-cancers, 53.5% in women. Prostate cancer and breast cancer were the principal cause of morbidity in men and women, respectively, and lung cancer was the principal cause of death for both sexes.Conclusion: Cancer is a health problem for the population of Medellin. It is necessary to emphasize research and monitor risk factors, the health response and the capacity of the health provider network when facing the growing demand caused by this epidemic.

Epidemiology of cancer in Colombia

“…Medellín, located in the Andean mountains of northwestern Colombia, is the second most populated city in the country, with particular demographic characteristics; it presents the incidence for cancers prioritized by the Ten-Year Plan for Cancer Control in Colombia. It should be noted that nearly 100% of new cases of cancer registered have morphological verification 12 , so that the results correspond more to a Population Registry of Pathology. In this sense, the information on the risk of cancer in Medellín is most probably underestimated since it does not include cases with a clinical or imaging diagnosis and those whose only evidence of cancer is the death certificate.…”

“…In this issue of Colombia Medica, the PBCR-Cali describes the principles and methods used to analyze 50 years of incidence (1962-2012), 30 years of mortality (1984-2014) and 15 years of survival data (1995-2009) 5 . Six Colombian PBC-Registries and one Ecuadorian PBC-Registry show the collection, classification and analysis of all new cancer cases and cancer deaths that occurred in Quito, Cali, Pasto, Bucaramanga, Manizales, Barranquilla and Medellín during the period 2008-2012 6 - 12 .…”

“…Barranquilla and Medellín report for the first-time data on the incidence of cancer 11 , 12 . Barranquilla, a coastal city and the main economic center of the Colombian Caribbean region, shows the highest incidence rates of breast and cervix uteri cancer, while its rates for gastric cancer and all cancer sites are the lowest in Colombia.…”

“…The NCI-Colombia uses the information from four cancer registers 7 - 10 and the official mortality figures, to make valid estimates of cancer incidence for the entire country and for each one of the provinces in Colombia 15 . The cancer risk estimates for Colombia will be more precise when the information from Barranquilla 11 and Medellín 12 can be included in the future.…”

“…En este número de Colombia Medica, el RPC-Cali describe los principios y métodos utilizados para analizar 50 años de incidencia (1962-2012), 30 años de mortalidad (1984-2014) y 15 años de supervivencia (1995-2009) 5 . Seis registros RPC colombianos y uno ecuatoriano, muestran la recopilación, clasificación y análisis de todos los casos nuevos y las defunciones por cáncer ocurridas en Quito, Cali, Pasto, Bucaramanga, Manizales, Barranquilla y Medellín durante el periodo 2008-2012 6 - 12 .…”