Cancer and Its Determinants: Identifying Major Risk Factors Among Patients in Southern Bangladesh

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with multiple lifestyles, environmental, and genetic factors contributing to its development. Objective: This study aimed to identify major risk factors and characterize the demographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients in southern Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Khulna City Medical College Hospital from January 2024 to June 2025. Data were collected from 300 cancer patients attending outpatient and inpatient services. Sociodemographic information, lifestyle behaviors, medical and family history, and cancer type were recorded using structured interviews and review of medical records. Descriptive statistics summarized the characteristics of patients, and chi-square analysis examined associations between risk factors and cancer types. Results: Of the 300 patients, 168 (56.0%) were male and 132 (44.0%) were female, with a mean age of 52.4 ± 14.2 years. The most common cancers were lung (25.3%), gastrointestinal (17.3%), and oral & pharyngeal (16.0%), while breast (39.4%) and cervical (21.2%) cancers predominated among women. Tobacco use (48.0%), betel nut chewing (39.3%), alcohol consumption (13.3%), and sedentary lifestyle (53.3%) were prevalent, with significant associations between tobacco and lung/oral cancers (p<0.001), betel nut and oral/pharyngeal cancer (p=0.002), alcohol and gastrointestinal cancers (p=0.004), and sedentary behavior and breast/colorectal cancers (p=0.017). Family history of cancer was reported by 21.3% of participants and was significantly associated with breast and cervical cancers (p=0.031). Hypertension (30.7%) and diabetes (22.7%) were the most common comorbidities. Conclusion: Cancer in southern Bangladesh shows a clear pattern of lifestyle, hereditary, and metabolic risk factors. Tobacco and betel nut use, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and family history are strongly associated with specific cancer types.