Trends in breast cancer incidence in Ho Chi Minh City 1996 - 2015:  a registry-based study

Abstract

Background and Aims: The burden of breast cancer in Vietnam has not been documented. This study sought to estimate the incidence of breast cancer in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest economic center of Vietnam, from 1996 to 2015.Methods: This was a population-based study using the Ho Chi Minh City Cancer Registry as a source of data (coverage period: 1996 - 2015). The Registry adopted the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd Edition for the classification of primary sites and morphology, and guidelines from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the International Association of Cancer Registries. Using the population statistics from census data of Ho Chi Minh City, the point incidence of breast cancer for each 5-year period was estimated. Based on the national population, we calculated the age-standardized rate (ASR) of breast cancer between 1996 and 2015.Results: Overall 14,222 new cases of breast cancer (13,498 women, or 95%) had been registered during the 1996-2015 period; among whom, just over half (52%) were in the 2nd stage, and 26% in the 3rd and and 4th stages. In women, the median age at diagnosis was 50 years and there was a slight increase over time. The age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer during 2011-2015 period was 21.5 cases per 100,000 women, representing an increase of 70% compared to the rate in 1996-2000 period. In men, there was also a significant increase in the age-standardized incidence rate: from 0.22 during the 1996-2001 period to 0.46 per 100,000 men during the 2011-2015 period.Conclusions: These very first data from Vietnam suggest that although the incidence of breast cancer in Vietnam remains relatively low, it has increased over time, and that the increase was mainly attributable to those age groups of 50 and 70.

Tacca khanhhoaensis V.S. Dang & Vuong (Taccaceae), a new species from southern Vietnam

“…During botanical field surveys in Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Khanh Hoa Province, southern Vietnam in 2017, a species of Tacca was collected. After thorough examination of the Tacca species in Drenth (1972, 1976), Ding and Larsen (2000), Pham (2000), Vo (2007) and Zhang et al (2005, 2006), re-examination of specimens deposited in the Vietnamese herbaria VNM, HN and VNMN, as well as specimen images on the website of JSTOR Global Plants, P and K, we concluded that our sample belongs to a new species, which we describe in this study.…”

“…Currently, six species of the genus Tacca have been recorded in Vietnam: T.chantrieri André, T.integrifolia Ker Gawl., T.leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze, T.palmate Blume, T.plantaginea (Hance) Drenth and T.subflabellata P.P. Ling & C.Ting (Pham 2000, Vo 2007).…”

Taxonomic revision of the Asplenium wrightii complex (Aspleniaceae) with reinstatement of A. alatulum and A. subcrenatum

“… Asplenium wrightii was also documented in Vietnam ( Pham 1999 ; Lin and Viane 2013 ). However, we checked specimens identified as A.…”

“…Extensive field investigation and careful examination of specimens of Asplenium wrightii complex from 21 herbaria (CDBI, CSH, CZH, GH, GXMG, GZTM, HGAS, HUST, HZ, IBK, IBSC, IMC, JIU, JJF, L, MO, NAS, NA, NY, PE and SYS; abbreviations follow Thiers in Index Herbariorum available at http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ ) and our own collections, as well as the study of protologues and other related literature( Lin and Viane 2013 ; Pham 1999 ) were carried out.…”

Rediscovery and amended descriptions of Begonia kingdon-wardii (Begoniaceae) from North Myanmar

“…Based on further comparison with all the previously published species in Begonia sect. Sphenanthera ( Smith et al 1986 ; Ku et al 1997; Pham1999 ; Huang and Shui 2006 ; Hughes 2008 ; Averyanov and Nguyen 2012 ), its two-petalled female flower and the serpentinous adaxial leaf surface are distinct and unique in this section.…”