Cancer incidence in Southern Libya: Updated report from 2016 to 2018

Abstract

Background/Aim: Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide with significant association with deaths and disabilities. Monitoring the cancer incidence is important, but it has never been assessed prospectively in southern part of Libya. The aim of this study was to estimate the cancer incidence and incidence rates in southern part of Libya as part of the monitoring of the cancer incidence in Libya. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study based on data collected between January 2016 and December 2018, the total number of cases diagnosed with different types of cancer reported to the Sabha Cancer Center was 665. All Libyan males and females who were diagnosed with any type of cancer were included in this study. Results: Overall cancer was more among female than male; it affected 414 (62.3%) females and 251 (37.7%) males. With 374 (56.2%) of all recorded cases being found in Sabha, the city documented the highest percentage of all cases found in these regions. According to the study analysis, the most diagnosed type of cancer in southern Libya was breast cancer, with 318 (47.8%) cases, followed by colorectal cancer (118, 17.7%), prostate cancer (60, 9%), leukemia (31, 4.7), lung cancer (23, 3.5), ovarian cancer (18, 2.7%), and lymphoma (17, 2.6%). Among females, breast cancer remained the most reported cancer site, with a decrease in the incidence rate from 146 (45.9%) in 2016 – 73 (23%) cases in 2018. Colorectal cancer was the second most common cancer with a slight increase in the incidence rate from 34 (28.8%) in 2016 to 43 (36.4%) cases in 2018. Leukemia and ovarian cancer ranked third and fourth most-reported cancer sites, respectively. For males, colorectal cancer remained the most reported cancer site during the study period with a slight increase in the incidence rate from 23 (9.16%) in 2016 to 32 (12.7%) cases in 2018. Prostate cancer was the second most common cancer and decreased in the incidence rate from 34 (13.5%) in 2016 to 14 (5.57%) cases in 2018, followed by leukemia and lymphoma. The elderly age groups of ≥70 years account for 17% of the cancer cases. There was a steady rise in incidence rate of all cancers from age <14 years to 69 years and was greater in women. In elderly people (≥70 years), cancer rate was higher in male than female. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the importance of further epidemiological and etiological studies to further reveal factors contributing to the cancer incidence trends in Libya.