Diagnosed Cancers Among Afghans: Data from referral and teritiary Hospital in Kabul Afghanistan

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that cancer is one of the main causes of death in most of the developed countries; and in the developing countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of different types of cancers diagnosed in the oncology department of the referral Jamhoriat Hospital. Research Methodology: This is a retrospective quantitative cross-sectional study which was conducted using medical records of patients suffering from various types of cancers from the march 2022 to September 2023 in the specialized and referral Jamhoriat hospital in Kabul-Afghanistan. Results: Out of the 3001 patients who were included in the study, 62.2% were females and 37.8% were males. Most of them were between the age 39-57 years old. The most common cancers in females were breast cancer 20.7% and esophagus cancer 20.1% followed by stomach 8.1%, uterus and cervix 6.7%, gastro esophageal junction 6.6%, colorectal 6.5%, ovaries 4% ,liver 3.4%,sarcoma 2.9%, gallbladder 2.1% , kidney 1.8% ,non Hodgkin lymphoma 1.4%, Hodgkin lymphoma 1.3% ,skin melanoma 1.2% , lung 1.1% and urinary bladder 1.1%.The leading cancers in males were esophagus 26.5% followed by stomach 12.1%, colorectal 9.4%, gastro esophageal junction 8.5%, testicles 6%, liver 5.1%.%, sarcoma 4.1%, non Hodgkin lymphoma 2.8%, skin melanoma 2.7%, Hodgkin lymphoma 2.6%, lung 2%, gallbladder 1.6% , kidney 1.2% , and urinary bladder 1.1%.According to the ethnic of the patients most of them were Pashtuns 42.4% followed by Tajiks 35%, Hazara 10.3% and Uzbek 7.1% .Place of recidence of the patients mojrity of them were reside in central zone 38.8%, followed by north east 16.3%, south east 11.8%, north10.6%, east 9.3%, south 8.6% and west 4.6%. Conclusion: In current study the most common cancers in Afghans males were esophagus, stomach, colorectal, gastro esophageal junction, testicles and liver. And in Afghans females the most prevalent cancers were breast, esophagus, stomach, uterus and cervix, gastro esophageal junction, colorectal, ovaries and liver. Most of the patients were between 39-57 years old age categories. Further investigation is needed in future for finding the related factors.