O-28 Cancer burden in Tobago, West Indies
Author(s):
D George , L Paul , H Daisley
Type Of Study:
- Descriptive Study
- Experimental or Intervention Study
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: To determine the cancer burden in the island of Tobago West Indies and to develop a cancer registry for the island of Tobago.
Methods: This was a etrospective study. Cancer diagnosed during the period 2018–2023 at the department of Pathology at the Scarborough General Hospital were collected with their demographics. All the surgical specimens received in the histopathology laboratory were examined and those dignosed with cancer formed the basis of this study. The total number of surical specimens received was 6204 and the total number of cancers diagnosed was 742, which accounted for 11.9% of all surgical specimens received.
Results: Prostate (215), Breast (181) and Colorectal (91) carcinomas were the most common cancers diagnosed during the study period. Female gynecological cancers; endometrium, cervix and ovaries accounted for 58.7%, 29.7% and 11.6% of all gynecological cancers respectively.
Conclusion: In Tobago, prostate cancer had the highest prevalence among males and breast cancer had the high- est incidence among female. Endometrial cancer was the second most common cancer in females. Colorectal cancer was also prominently featured in this study being second and third most common cancer diagnosed in males and females respectively. Cancer screening should be directed towards its early detection. There is a need for a cancer registry on the island, so that health agencies can plan oncology policies specific to the needs of the population.