ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Cancers have a special place in health programs because of the costs of diagnosis and treatment as well as their irreversible complications. Distribution of diseases and their relationship with certain geographical areas is a confirmed subject producing a scientific background for medical geography. This study aimed to determine the five-year incidence of gastric cancer and its relationship with geographical factors in Khuzestan Province between 2009 and 2013
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study we assessed the incidence rate and relationship of gastric cancer with environmental, geographic and climatic factors. The study included all patients with gastric cancer in Khuzestan Province, between 2009 and 2013. The demographic and pathologic data of the patients had been recorded in a comprehensive cancer registration system. Using SPSS version 16, data were analyzed by independent T-test, Kruskai-Wallis test and ANOVA. Mapping of climatic factors was performed by Arc GIS.ver10.3 software
Results: 1587 patients with gastric cancer had been recorded between 2009 and 2013 in the province's comprehensive cancer registration system. The mean age of the patients was 62.57 +/- 14.17 years. 1047 patients [66%] were male, and 540 [34%] were female. The cumulative incidence of gastric cancer, was estimated as 35 per hundred thousand people. The relationship between gastric cancer and mean rainfall was statistically significant [p: 0.04]
Conclusion: The incidence rates of gastric cancer in different regions of the Khuzestan Province were not the same which can be related to the demographic variables as well as different geographic and climatic factors. Therefore, in order to identify the related risk factors in different regions further epedemeological and etiological studies are recommended
ABSTRACT
The most common cancer among women is breast cancer which accounts for 27% of all cancers. According to the National Cancer Institutes' reports, the risk of breast cancer among American women is 13%. The current study aims to evaluate the level of risk perception of breast cancer and to identify its related factors amongst female employees. This project was a cross-sectional study and participants were female employees working in hospitals and other organizations in the city of Ilam,Iran. A standard questionnaire was prepared using the Gail's model. Excluding criteria for perception risk were age less than 20 years and a history of breast cancer. Two hundred forty nine women participated in the study, and their mean age and standard deviation were 33.4 and 7 years respectively. The participants were divided into the medical and non- medical employee groups. Ninety seven point two percent of the participants had high school diploma or higher education levels, and 80.3% were married. Twelve subjects [4.8%] had a history of breast cancer among their first- grade relatives [mother or sisters]; and 16 subjects had a history of breast cancer among their second- grade relatives. Occupation, familial history of cancer and breast tissue biopsy were significantly related to perception risk in this study, and the breast cancer perception risk was higher in the medical group compared to the non-medical group. Most women did not show a true estimation of breast cancer; however, those working in the relevant professions such as nurses and midwives can show a higher estimation. A higher knowledge of breast cancer will result in a higher perception risk and chasing relevant preventive and remedial cares