The Epidemiology and Trend of Cancer in Misurata oncology center, 2012–2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND: on the last decade in Libya, the oncology center in Misurata become the most important cancer diagnosis and follow up center on the western region of Libya. The Libyan society was worried about the increase of the percentage of tumor incidences among the Libyans on the last few years. This study focuses on cancer prevalence in city of Misurata and the surrounding area in central Libya from 2012 to 2016.

METHODS: A hospital-based registry of cancer patients was formed using records from oncology center in Misurata, focusing on patients who were diagnosed between 2012 and 2016.

RESULTS: the incidence of tumor on females was higher than males from 2014 up to higher deference on 2016,  the most common malignancies in men were cancers of the lung on years from 2012 up to 2015 even though it decrease to 18% of males patients on 2016, followed by colon, its prevalence rate ranged from 14% to 18% of recorded male patients (For women, they were found to be cancers of the breast ranged from 29.84% on 2012 and raised to 43.08%. Additionally, age-standardized rates (ASR) were determined for recording patients who leaved on the city of Misurata and compared with published record from the other countries. The incidence rates given for the city of Misurata can be considered with the counties with low malignancy rate

CONCLUSION: Proper surveillance programs need to be in place and healthcare policy should be adjusted to consider the more prevalent and pressing cancers in society.