DIAGNOSED CANCERS AMONG AFGHANS BASED ON DATA FROM A REFERRAL AND TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN KABUL,AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

Background: Research indicates that cancer ranks as a primary cause of death in many developed nations, while in developing countries, it stands as the second leading cause of mortality. This study aims to examine the prevalence of various cancer types diagnosed within the oncology department of Jamhoriat Hospital in Kabul.

Methods and Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study utilized the medical records of patients diagnosed with different types of cancers between March 2022 and September 2023 at the public referral Jamhoriat Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Results: In the current study involving 3,001 patients, 62.2% were female and 37.8% were male, with the majority aged between 39 and 57 years. The most prevalent cancers among females were breast cancer (20.7%) and esophageal cancer (20.1%), followed by stomach cancer (8.1%), uterine and cervical cancers (6.7%), gastroesophageal junction cancer (6.6%), and colorectal cancer (6.5%). Other notable cancers included ovarian (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 cancer (1. 1%).In males, the leading cancers were esophageal (26.5%), stomach (12.1%), colorectal (9.4%), and gastroesophageal junction cancer (8.5%). Other cancers included testicular (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 cancer (1. 1%). Ethnically, the majority of patients were Pashtun (42.4%), followed by Tajik (35%), Hazara (10.3%), and Uzbek (7.1%). Regarding residence, most patients lived in the central zone (38.8%), followed by the northeast (16.3%), southeast (11.8%), north (10.6%), east (9.3%), south (8.6%), and west (4.6%).

Conclusion: Overall, the present study revealed that cancer was more prevalent among women than men. The most prevalent cancers among Afghan males were esophageal, stomach, colorectal, gastroesophageal junction, testicular, and liver cancers. In Afghan females, the most frequently observed cancers were breast, esophagus, stomach, uterine and cervical cancers, gastroesophageal junction, colorectal, ovaries, and liver cancers. Most patients fell within the middle-aged group. There is a need for greater awareness of cancer and its prevention among everyone.