There are 53 newly diagnosed cancer cases per 100,000 people

Cancer Registry Study Highlights Rising Cancer Cases in Bangladesh

A population-based cancer registry has revealed that 53 new cancer cases are detected annually per 100,000 people in a specific region of Bangladesh. Among men, laryngeal cancer is the most prevalent, while breast cancer is the most common among women. Additionally, cancer accounts for 12% of total deaths in the area.

The study was conducted by teachers and researchers from the Department of Public Health and Informatics at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Presenting the findings at an event on Saturday, the researchers emphasized the need for large-scale cancer registration to aid in both prevention and treatment.

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2022 report, approximately 167,256 people develop cancer annually in Bangladesh, translating to an incidence rate of 100 cases per 100,000 people.

BSMMU Associate Professor Khalequzzaman, in his keynote presentation, stated that the study covered 201,668 individuals from 46,631 families in Hossainpur upazila, Kishoreganj, identifying 214 cancer patients. This translates to an incidence rate of 106 cancer cases per 100,000 people.

Due to the absence of population-based cancer data, previous estimates relied on expert assumptions, including WHO statistics. The researchers stressed that population-based cancer registration is the most accurate method to assess the actual disease burden.

Professor Atiqul Haque, chairman of the Department of Public Health and Informatics, underscored the importance of such registries for understanding cancer prevalence. Unlike neighboring countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Bangladesh lacked a systematic cancer registry until BSMMU initiated this study.

Under this initiative, cancer registration in Hossainpur began in July 2023, with a follow-up study conducted on 13,411 families between July 1, 2024, and January 14, 2025.

The study identified 38 different types of cancer among Hossainpur residents, with 93% of patients aged between 18 and 75 years. A small percentage of cases were found among children, and notably, more than 7% of patients did not seek any form of treatment.

Among men, the most common cancers are:

• Laryngeal (13%)
• Stomach (10.4%)
• Lung (8.7%)
• Lip and oral cavity (7%)
• Esophageal (6.1%)

In women, the most prevalent cancers are:

• Breast (36.4%)
• Cervical (11.1%)
• Lip and oral cavity (10.1%)
• Thyroid (7.1%)
• Ovarian (5.1%)

Khalequzzaman also highlighted that 17% of cancer patients have high blood pressure, 11% have diabetes, 6% suffer from heart disease, and 3% have kidney disease. Additionally, 2% have a history of stroke, while 76% of male cancer patients have a history of smoking.

Following the presentation, an open discussion was held, where participants emphasized the urgent need for large-scale cancer registration. Experts suggested that at least 500,000 people should be covered to obtain a comprehensive national picture. Additionally, they called for uninterrupted funding to sustain the BSMMU cancer registry project.