Statistical Analysis of Cancer Incidence in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Cancer incidence is increasing in Saudi Arabia and worldwide due to increase in life span of all population, and cancer incidence increase with age. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the frequency of cancer incidence Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to assess the most common cancer compared to other regional countries. Materials and Methods: The data of this study was based on Saudi cancer registry statistics. Comprehensive cancer registration was achieved through data obtained from a combination of sources, viz., (a) notifications by the medical profession, (b) pathology records, (c) hospital records, and (d) mortality data from the Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD), Ministry of Health (MOH). The data was analyzed for Riyadh province only because it is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with population of 7125180 of Saudi population 30770375 ( 23.2%). Results: The most leading cancer in Riyadh region is breast cancer (692 cases per year in average. 2.3% (16 cases) of breast cancer were males. The incidence of thyroid cancer is higher in females (343) by a factor of 4.0 compared to males (85) .In contrast, the incidence of lung, leukemia, liver and other types of cancer were higher in males compared to females by a factor of 3.1, 1.2, 2.3 and 2.01, in that order. Conclusions: This study illustrates the cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia is comparable with other regional and countries with the same health care level I worldwide. Cancer prevention programs are essential in reduction of cancer incidence rate such as reduction of smokers and smoking rate, health diet and sport and vaccination against hepatitis and other infectious diseases, which can cause cancer.