Asian Pacifc Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol 12, 2011 1261 Cancer Incidence Rate in the Kurdistan Region/Iraq from 2007-2009 Asian Pacifc J Cancer Prev, 12, 1261-1264 Introduction Cancer incidence is increasing all over the world (Curado et al., 2007). Despite new advances in cancer research, the etiology of many types of cancer is still unknown. Although there is no National Cancer Registry in whole Iraq including Kurdistan Region but still every Governorate registers new cancer cases depending on their limited local resourses. Some independent report from different cities of Iraq had showed increase incidence of different types of cancer; Adil H. Al-Humadi showed increase in risk of colon cancer in Iraq from 25% to 50% during 30 year period (1965-1994) (Al-Humadi, 2009). Omran S Habib et al, demonstrate overall increase in incidence cancer rate as compared to previously reported fgures in Basrah. Additionally, this report showed high cancer incidence rate specially among female compared to neighboring country ASR of 123.4 and ASR of 114.3 for both male and female respectively (Omran S Habib et al., 2007). Kurdistan Region as a part of Iraq country has been exposed to many environmental and epidemiological 1 Department of Oncology, Azadi Teaching Hospital, 2 General Directorate of Health, Duhok, 3 Division of Oncology and Hematology, Nanakaly Hospital, Erbil, 4 General Directorate of Health, Sulaimaniyah, 5 Department of Microbiology, Duhok University, Duhok, Kurdistan/Iraq *For correspondence: ramadhan.othman@gmail.com Abstract Cancer is a disease of gradual increase in incidence overall the world. Kurdistan Region in Iraq has been exposed to several carcinogenic hazards. There are few reports about the increased risk of cancer in different cities in Iraq. These reports did not cover Kurdistan region. The aim of this paper was to study cancer incidence and to identify possible risks of cancer in this region. Cancer registries from 9 hospitals in three cities of Kurdistan were used as a source of data. Information on these cases was subjected to careful verifcation regarding repetition, place of residence and other possible errors. Overall registered cases in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were 1444, 2081, 2356 respectively. 49% of registered cases were males and 51% were female. The Age Standardized Rate of cancer was 89.83/100 000 among male and 83.93/100 000 among female. The results showed major variation in incidence rates of different types of cancer in the three governorates of Kurdistan. Furthermore, there was evidence of increased risks of cancer in Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Hematological malignancies were the most common cancer among male (21.13% of all cancer in males) and second most common in female (18.8% of all cancer in female), only exceeded by breast cancer. To reach sound conclusions about extent and determinants of cancer in Kurdistan, enormous multi-spectrum efforts are now needed. Keywords: Cancer incidence - Kurdistan/Iraq - risk factors RESEARCH COMMUNICATION Cancer Incidence Rates in the Kurdistan Region/Iraq from 2007-2009 Ramadhan T Othman 1 *, Rezvan Abdulljabar 1 , Abdullah Saeed 2 , Sarwar Sadiq Kittani 2 , Hushyar M Sulaiman 2 , Sami A Mohammed 3 , Rekawt M Rashid 4 , Nawfal R Hussein 5 changes that predispose to increase risk of cancer in this region. On one hand, there is shift toward the western-style of living and dietary habits, on the other hand the effects of chemical hazard of the Iraqi/Iranian War for 8 years (from 1980-1988) and use of Chemical weapons against Kurdish people from the Central Government for example Chemical Bombardment of Halabja City in Kurdistan on 1988 (Salih, 1995). In Kurdistan, North of Iraq, no research has been undertaken to identify the incidence rate of cancer and to highlight the increase risk of malignancy in this region. Aim of this study is to have a 1st report about cancer incidence in Kurdistan Region and to identify increase risk of cancer in this region. Materials and Methods Kurdistan Region is located in the north-west of Iraq at latitude of 36°11’ N and a longitude 44°00’ E. Kurdistan region is divided into three governorates Duhok, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. The people living in Kurdistan Province are Kurds as well as Arabs, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Turkmen,