Cancer Incidence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2020

Abstract Background: To present the population-based cancer statistics for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, an incidence study was conducted at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC) in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2023. Methods: Records from various centers on new cancers diagnosed in residents of KP between January and December 2020 were gathered. Both the active and passive methods of data collection were applied, and the information was saved in a central repository at SKMCH&RC. The incidence rates were computed by age group and sex and presented per 100,000 population. Results: Among children (0-14 years), the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was 4.0 in girls and 6.1 in boys, and hematologic malignancies were more prevalent; in adolescents (15-19 years), the ASIR was 7.7 in females and 9.4 in males, and bone tumors, hematologic malignancies, and neurological cancers were prominent; in adult females (>/= 20 years), the ASIR was 84.9, and cancers of the breast, digestive system, and reproductive organs were predominant; and in adult males, the ASIR was 73.0, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, lip/oral cavity/pharynx, and prostate were common. Conclusions: It is crucial to investigate the etiology of these diseases at the community level because dietary elements, infectious diseases, and tobacco use all appear to be significant contributors. Prospective studies could play a key role in highlighting the factors linked to these diseases. Therefore, cancer registration must continue in conjunction with the exploration of risk factors.