Breast Cancer (Bc) Is the Most Commonly

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.1.367 Increased Trend of Breast Cancer Mortality in Iran

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION Increased Trend of Breast Cancer Mortality in Iran

Afsoon Taghavi1, Zeinab Fazeli2, Mohsen Vahedi3, Ahmad Reza Baghestani4, Asma Pourhoseingholi2, Farnoosh Barzegar2, Mohamad Amin Pourhoseingholi2*

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide In Iran, it ranks first among cancers diagnosed in women and is the fifth most common cause of death. The aim of this study was to present the mortality trends from breast cancer for Iranian women during a period of almost a decade, in order to provide update information regarding the likely future. Methods: We analyzed National death Statistic reported by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 1995 to 2004 to generate annual mortality rates/100,000, overall, by age group (50 years old. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend for breast cancer mortality in Iran. Thus, health education programs to rectify the lack of women awareness about breast cancer signs and effective screening are urgently needed. Keywords: Breast cancer - mortality - burden - Iranian females Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 13, 367-370

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide (Parkin et al., 2005). Global statistics show the annual incidence of breast cancer is increasing and this is occurring more rapidly in countries with a low incidence rate of breast cancer (Parkin et al., 200; Wilson et al., 2004). It has been reported that each year over 502,000 women die from the disease (World Health Organization., 2009) and it causes more than $7 billion direct economic loss (medical costs) per year worldwide (Forbes., 1997). BC is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancerrelated deaths among women in the U.S (U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group., 2010). It is also the most common tumor in...