Cancer incidence in Llatin America: An update

Background. Cancer incidence data are the basis for cancer control programs, epidemiological and etiological studies. In Latin America there is little information available over the past 10 years on the burden of malignant neoplasias. Most of Latin American countries are referred as low and middle-income countries and it is known that changes in demographic structure with ageing populations contribute to increasing the incidence of chronic and non-communicable diseases, including cancer, due to early-life exposure time to risk factors as alcohol or tobacco. Lifestyle and dietary changes are accompanying the economic development of these countries. In urban areas in middle and high-income populations, the risk factors are similar to those observed in developed countries; on the other hand, infectious agents that can lead to cancer are still present.

Aim. To describe the most incident cancers among Latin American populations with most recent data available from population based cancer registries.

Methods. The data was collected from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents volume IX, which covers 4.6% of Latin American population. We described the ASR(W) for the most common cancers from eleven population-based cancer registries.

Results. The highest ASR(W) appears in Brazil (São Paulo) for males and females. Overall among men, prostate was the most common cancer, followed by gastric cancer, colorectal and lung cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Among women, breast cancer was the most common followed by cervix, colorectal, gastric and thyroid cancers.

Conclusion. Cancer incidence in Latin America reflects changes in life expectancy and age distribution of population structure, as well as and the inequalities in economic development. Overall incidence rates are lower than in developed countries but incidence rates for infection-related cancers, such as cervical cancer, remain one of the highest in the world.