Patterns in the incidence of pediatric cancer in Alexandria, Egypt, from 1972 to 2001

ABSTRACT

Cancer among children is a substantial public concern. The epidemiology of childhood cancer is not fully understood. The descriptive epidemiology for cancer incidence has been a subject of considerable debate in order to identify and clarify the role of the etiological factors and the environmental exposure in cancer. An up-to-date perspective systematically collected data on the incidence of childhood cancer in Alexandria was used. The statistical analysis revealed that the overall cancer incidence rate increased from 1972 to 2001. The incidence of lymphatic and haemopoietic cancers increased dramatically over the specified period. The lymphatic and haemopoietic cancer incidence in 2001 have increased approximates 11 times the cancer incidence in 1972. The incidence of leukemia among infant less than 5 years increased exponentially with a higher incidence among boys. A slight increase was observed in cancers of oral cavity, digestive organs and respiratory system over the specified period. The incidence of genitourinary cancers increased 3.7 times the cancer incidence in 1973. Brain and central nervous system cancers showed an increase of 4.5 fold during the 30 years studied period. The trends in some cancer types suggest the need of a closer examination of the underlying factors and environmental contaminants that lead to this disease in children