Breast cancer incidence among women of Branicevo region in the period 1991 - 2000

Introduction Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, the second leading cause of cancer death, and the third most common cancer overall, throughout the world. In 1996, 910.000 new cases were diagnosed worldwide (about 9% of all new cases). Over 50% of breast cancer incidence occurred in the developed world. The aims of this study were to study breast cancer incidence during 1991-2000 in the region of Branicevo and to analyze differences in incidence rate for breast cancer in two periods of time 1991-1991 and 1996-2000. Material and methods This was a descriptive study. Routine national incidence data were used from the Republic Statistical Office. The analysis was restricted to the region of Branicevo. Age adjustment of annual incidence rates was carried out using five-year intervals and the distribution of the World population by Sega as the standard. Results A total of 542 women affected with breast cancer were evidenced in the Region of Branicevo during the period 1991- 2000, accounting for 25.3% of all malignant cases. Over the studied ten-year period the average standardized incidence rate (1:100,000) for breast cancer was 27.4. Based on the average age-specific incidence rates (1:100,000) female breast cancer was least frequently evidenced in women up to 34 years of age, while it was most frequent in groups aged 45 - 49 and 70 - 74 years. Over the period 1991-1995, female breast cancer accounted for 32.0% and in the period 1996-2000 for 22.2% of all mlignancies, with the average standardized incidence rates (1:100,000) being 22.5% and 32.4%, respectively. Discussion The average standardized incidence rate (1:100,000) for breast cancer was 27.4, which is similar to the rates evidenced in Eastern European countries, such as Poland (38.7), Slovakia (34.5), Hungary (29.6), Romania (31.1), Belarus (24.7) and Russia (40.6). Increase of breast cancer incidence rate, evidenced in the Region of Branicevo, is also evidenced in most countries with previously low incidence rates. Increase of breast cancer incidence rate is also detected in our neighboring countries, Bulgaria and Slovenia. Conclusions An increasing trend of breast cancer incidence rate was evidenced in the Region of Branicevo over the period 1991 - 2000, partially due to well kept registries and partially due to actual increase in the number of patients affected with malignant diseases.