Journal Of Cancer & Allied Specialties 1
J Cancer Allied Spec 2023;9(2):3 Original Article
Cancer in Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib, Pakistan: 2017–2019; An
Observational Study
Farhana Badar
1
*, Aneel Yousaf
1
, Alia Ahmad
2
, Sadia Hameed
3
,
Omar Rasheed Chughtai
4
, Mohammad Fahim Ur Rehman
5
, Asif Loya
6
1
Section of Cancer Registry and Clinical Data Management, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer
Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan,
2
Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology,
The Children’s Hospital and University of Child Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
3
Department of
Pathology, University Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan,
4
Chughtai Lab, Lahore,
Pakistan,
5
Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children Hospital and Institute of Child
Health, Faisalabad, Pakistan,
6
Department of Pathology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital
and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
Received: 17 January 2023/Accepted: 16 June 2023
Abstract
Introduction: The Punjab Cancer Registry’s catchment area includes
the districts of Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib. It is an observational and
descriptive study that covers the 3 years from 2017 to 2019, evaluating the
distribution of cancer in these two districts. Material and Methods: Data
on incident cancer cases diagnosed between 2017 and 2019 among
residents of Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, reported by the
participating centres of the Registry, were reviewed retrospectively.
Figures and proportions for adults, children and adolescents were
computed. Results: During 2017 and 2019, 5678 cases were reported
from Faisalabad and 390 from Nankana Sahib, with over 50% seen in
females. In both districts combined, among adult females, cancers of the
breast, reproductive system, and hepatobiliary system were commonly
diagnosed, while cancer of the lip/oral cavity/pharynx, hepatobiliary
system and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were the leading diagnoses among
adult males. In children and young adults (0–19 years), acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were the
most common diagnoses. Conclusion: The cancer distribution reported
from Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib is of utmost importance. However, the
underreporting of cancer cases cannot be ruled out. More input from the
collaborators is needed to ensure the completeness of cancer surveillance
in the region.
Keywords: Cancer, epidemiology, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Punjab
Cancer Registry
OPEN ACCESS
Correspondence:
Farhana Badar,
7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town,
Lahore 54782, Pakistan.
Tel: +92-42-35905000. ext. 4240.
E-mail: farhana@skm.org.pk
Citation: Badar F,
Yousaf A, Ahmad A, Hameed S,
Chughtai O, Fahim-ur-Rehman M,
Loya A. Cancer in Faisalabad
and Nankana Sahib, Pakistan:
2017–2019; An Observational
Study. J Cancer Allied Spec
[Internet]. 2023;9(2):1-7.
https://doi.org/10.37029/jcas.
v9i2.529
Copyright: © 2023 Badar F,
et al. This is an open access
article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 4.0 International
License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original
author and source are credited.
Funding: None.
Competing interest: The
registry is a member of the
International Association of
Cancer Registries, France, and
is registered under Pakistan’s
Societies Registration Act. The
registry is supported by the
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust.